I still remember the day, I was in the company of friends, all known to me
We sat drinking in the lounge, the atmosphere golden and warmth,
And here were other people too, lost in the hums of conversation and music
We talked of the pleasures of the day, laughing
Then my friend Aseko asked, “Ronga, are you okay?”
I ignored and laughed it off, all others joining
Sigu put, “Aseko, are you okay to ask Ronga if he’s?”
And Morara added, “Or Aseko is drunk, are you not so Aseko?”
But Aseko, having felt offended, left.

We added more drinks, more warmth to fill the crack
But when I raised my face from a sip, they were all gone
Ah, let them go. It is time to go.

The embers of the sun had faded in the cold, crimson bleeding in the horizon
I took a path, so used to me, so strange to me
Its sides a tangled wall of branches, twisting roots clutching the earth
Each of my steps taking a silent warning, echoes coming to me in whispers
“Go, Ronga, don’t go!”

I passed cornfield, roaring wind yanking me backward
Moon’s silver gaze a silent plea, A DETERRENT!
And afar, beyond the reach of time’s hurried pace
Were shifting streaks of green and grey

A nudge!

“Hey, Ronga, are you okay?” asked Aseko
“No!” answered I. “Where are the rest?”
“All gone, we need to go, Ronga!”
“To where, Aseko, to where?”