Tumbling Into Leechdom
The Omo River Ethiopia has no roads or bridges there
It is my home of hope
There is no other way to live
Leeches were once everywhere within the Omo
Tributaries, brooks and streams attended them
Morning’s sun would glaze my eyes when I was young
Running with the muddied currents there
The rock along the centered way protruding on the surface
Destroyed my boat and fled as splintered pieces down the stream
Swirling their good-byes
Discarding me right there abandoned
From the shallows, fighting currents to find dry land
When I emerged, muddied, like some darkened creature
Firm terrain found me dripping wet with leeches clinging head to toe
This would be my new life story
My river found friends and I set out to see the cunning man
The village shaman medicine man
Who offered his daughter in exchange for them
I took trinkets and bottled goat milk instead
Finding the young girl too heavy for the road
These leeches are perfect for all the healings
Respiratory infections to demonic possession
Leech gathering is what I do
Along and in the Omo of Ethiopia
Categories:
leechdom, africa, boat, change, identity,
Form: Free verse