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 in bare hands

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.

Who knows 

Maybe one of 

Those spirits had been eaten-

Picture thier spirit

Going again on this 

Hyena wild ride a second time.

Oh the irony-

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.