Palm-wine Tapper
By George Amadi
My sinewy customer early morning rain defied;
Worn, green, Khaki buba-sokoto,
discoloured,
To his middle-aged, lean-framed body clung,
When for the money I owed him he came asking.
The bark of bamboo, woven into a handy loop
As key tool, the thrifty father of two boys served;
But although from a large family of farmers hails,
Tree-climbing, sniggered at, delighted him no end.
To make ends meet, my uncle fruits daily, as well,
Plucked, to the relief of many a desperate widow;
Earlier, at day-break, into a multitude of palm-trees
Climbs, frothy wine, without fail, brings me at noon.
Lagos, August 9, 2014
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