The red tree I remembered
From the last time I was here
With a strange sense of destiny
That grew as I came near

With ease I lifted off the ground
and climbed the canopy
Wind in the leaves, that rushing sound
set free the bird in me

With the wind under my wings
From branch to branch I flew
The grass was green, the leaves were red
And the sky was truly blue

I sat there 20 metres high
‘tween mother earth and father sky
I rested in the sun kissed crown
And let the breeze rock me to sleep

And as I fell asleep
I fell
Where I went I couldn’t tell
My body meanwhile tumbled down
From its bed atop the crown

I didn’t notice at the time
So peaceful was this sleep of mine
That even while I cracked some ribs
My spirit stood there bargaining
at the river Styx

“Your life is in my hands now, boy”
Spoke the ferryman with glee
“Is that so” I questioned?
It made no sense to me

“It’s mine” He said with fury
“Unless you bargain well”
I didn’t want to lose my life
So I pondered for a spell

I went out on a limb
And offered he take one of mine
“Monkeyboy can choose” He said
“Since he likes to climb”

I told him: “You may take my leg”
And before I got specific
He said “All right! I’ll take the deal!
I’ll have your right, terrific!”

I stammered as he faded
My view was broken blurry
I gazed upon the red
Of the foliage above me

I never thought my life
Would change its course like this
But I played dice with the devil
And he doesn’t take the ****

I woke up in the hospital
Where the doctors to no end
Looked upon my leg
Which they’d tried so hard to mend

I slowly came to understand
This wasn’t just a dream
I’d have to live without it
My right leg now has been

And though it hurts me deeply
And strife now paints my path
To have one more chance, to live this life
I would cut myself in half

~Kagiso