THE GIFT
(Found poem,
"Masai Village learns of Sept. 11....,"
by Marc Lacey,
The New York Times,
June 3, 2002)

In his tiny Kenyan village
where only recently electricity arrived,
where the tallest things are acacia trees
and the giraffes that feed on them,
Kimeli Naiyomah sat among
his fellow Masai.

Recently returned from premed studies
in the United States, Naiyomah told stories
of faraway New York
and September 11th.

Many villagers felt stunned.
To some occurred vague understanding.
Said the chief of the morans (young warriors),
"I just never heard about it."

All felt relief that Naiyomah was unscathed.
They wanted to do something
for the people of the United States.

From their most cherished things—
children, land, cows—
they selected their offering.

In a grassy clearing,
in a solemn blessing ceremony,
they walked in a circle
around their gift—

fourteen cows.


Copyright © 2003 by Gwen Austin