6415. TAMBO AND BONES

TAMBO AND BONES

I made the Devil's tray out of

sugar  -  so it would be sweet

for those who take it. I gave

matches, for a smoke I took pity, 

to the town drunk, whilst he was 

in  jail  -  but he burned down the

jailhouse instead, and his'self as 

well. My Father was the Justice 

of the Peace locally (the JP) and

amongst hid duties was the coroner's

work : I once saw a moonlit dead

hand on a corpse in the darkness.

I drew the straw that made it my job

to dive and latch hold of lifeless

Lennie Cross' wrist  -  who took the

dare to dive the muddy river and hold

his breath the longest : too long, too long, 

too long. Just like the rabbit that beats the 

fox in those stories told by old Dan Quarles' 

tongue-talks, the slave-black to all us kids; 

the predator outwitted in the same

briar patch each time.