By Anthony Muchoki

Do dime from words
Unknown.
The village of gold
And cold.
Here come wattle trees
And needles of stones.

The research assistant
Is the minister
With no portfolio,
Listening, reading lips—
Strange words, unknown.
Strange language,
Strange skirts and scarves.

But here I am
With the queen,
As the minister
Without a portfolio,
Making a discovery,
Or simply discovering myself.