Claine Keily #21 The Mango Traders

There was a simple
party menu
stars
stalks of incense
and the menagerie to stare at

At home
things were darker
the tenants who
traded mangoes
-shipped them out
to frozen countries-
bathed until
there was no water
lit up the house at
obscene hours
cooled rooms
they would not
return to
until days later
when their business
was over