Dr Fixit (171 - 180)

 171

There was a holler of pity for the tenant.

If you trip down an elder, all across the clans,

that elder would be up again after the sacrifice 

of a cow of which the culprit would pay the price.

The best option would've been for the fellow 

to allow the elder to punch and bellow

while he watched from a safe distance.

When the fight was over, elders from the clans 

would be summoned to discipline the one

who defaulted and if there were damages, a sum

172

quite lump he'd pay and if he'd disdained 

the land, various items would be obtained 

for sacrifice to cleanse it. But these days,

it was unpredictable and really dicey to play

with a young man's gramophone 

as it could result in dire consequences - a bone

in the throat is how I would describe it.

But furiously, this elder leapt to his feet 

and was telling the tenant: 'Oh, this was your plan.

Wait for me. We'd get to see who's the real man!'

173

When the landlord furiously slipped into 

his parlour, the crowd begged the dude to

streak off as they all greatly feared 

he might come out with a weapon with sharp blade.

But the young man didn't budge.

Though the landlord re-emerged with more grudge 

he had no visible weapon in his hands.

His movement towards his tenant was like a prance.

He formed his hands like a pugilist

in the ring. Some said he had a ring in a fist.

174

Steadily, the young fellow had his eyes 

on him - whatever the weapon and whatever the guise.

The landlord's eyes too were fixed 

on the youth's frame, targeting where to hit.

The crowd was agog begging the landlord 

to stop. But it seemed their every word 

was only fanning the embers of ire

deep in him. Beating his rival was do or die.

The fighters were now having a dance:

one to throw a hit, the other with palms

175

stretched out, ready to fend off the blow.

'I'd die' had met 'I'd kill you' so it was a show.

Then, the elder threw a blow having as target 

the head of the youth. That he didn't get 

as the young man ducked under his arm 

which flew over but rather returned to harm

the landlord instead. His fist brushed his flank.

The landlord's countenance went blank.

The crowd was stunned as he went face down.

Was the man playacting the clown?

176

When he lay there and didn't get up,

deep in people's minds, they wondered, 'What's up?'

Did he suddenly develop a heart attack?

Some fellows bent down and turned him on his back.

Oh well, he had foam on his lips.

What did he bring from the house? They checked a fist

and he had a ring on a finger.

A new question without doubt did linger 

on the minds of the crowd here.

For long, the fog flatly refused to clear.

177

The wife was called and she said it was a surprise 

for her like everyone else to see with her eyes 

the strange ring her husband did suddenly wear.

Their grown-up kids affirmed too the man didn't bear

before on that finger or any other a ring.

The conclusion was the man had tried to fling 

a deadly blow on his tenant with a charmed ring.

Of course, what saved the life of the stripling 

was his ducking down and the hidden harm 

turned to face the man when brushed by his own arm.

178

It was a known thing throughout Antburg

that an army ant who runs faster than a dog 

could've enhanced his sprinting powers with a charm

just like the fellow who threw deadly blows with his arm.

A razor incision could have injected his blood 

with his chosen charm or the power he got

could be laced with a ring, armband or a pendant.

There was one rumour among army ants 

in high schools that there were magic pens

that students had and at the ends of the terms,

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the pens would write the exams for them.

I was learning how to scribble with a pencil, so when 

the time would come for me to write with a pen

I'd find out. But all over Antburg - from pen

for the domestic animals to farms,

folks would hang distinctive charms

to ward off bandits. Some charms 

were in earthenware or gourds but most visible signs 

that warned of harm was the newly-formed fronds

of palm trees tied to the objects and hung on trunks

180

of trees, raffia bar or bamboo.

Going to school or play, those things were put in view

and we were made to store it mentally 

as not to tamper with items that weren't ours willy-nilly

to avoid shame to ourselves and family.

Every parent made it a duty to fill the belly

of a child in their homes to avert them

going out and rubbishing the family's name.

My grandma would sing to my ears:

'Don't touch other people's things, whether pears