Just for Laughs

 In the continent of Africa

In the country of Ethiopia 

In the ancient city of Harar.

There are men 

who feed

raw meet 

to 

wild  hyenas 

Hyenas-

Killers 

of 

livestock

and 

small children.

Walk civilly through the

Streets 

Answering

The call 

Of 

The Hyena Men. 

Men,  who like 

their 

Fathers before them

fed 

Wild hyenas

Raw meat.

They wait 

Bare hands 

holding raw meat -

as a wild beast,

killer of small children 

and 

skilled at turning  livestock into dead stock,

eats from their hand slowly 

like an invited guest.

This is the bargain 

The deal struck-

To keep the streets

Free of

Spirits.

Hyenas-

Protecting the streets

from

the spirits of the dead.

Some say its to keep the livestock safe,

never the less a deals a deal. 

Oh the irony-

In the streets a spirit encounters a hyena.

In the voice of the spirit resentment.

In the eye of the wild beast

the words:

“Well, this is awkward …”

appear.

And then the streets fill

with the sound

of the last laugh.