Poems

Appeal

A translated extract

 
“I am of the Gaboye
will you marry me?!”
Last night, last night,
in the middle of the night,
as the clock struck
two hours past midnight,
someone struck
the door of the house?
“Who in heaven’s name is it?”
“A maiden,” she said.
“What’s the matter with you?” I said.
“Let me in,” she said.
I said, “Miss,
a caller at this hour
is a curious turn of events.”