AFRICAN ABSURDITY

In 48 hours,
a young woman from Zinkatoobee, Africa,
walked across seven continents in search of her soul.
She spoke to the head of each country
and wise tribunals, congresses and parliaments
in her avid quest.

Where did you last see it? Where did you lose it?
What did it look like? Why do you need a soul?

Frightened by the elegant seven-foot woman,
a tiny African-American boy humbly approached
and tugged on her purple raiment.

Queen, he said. Queen.

I am not a Queen. I am a plain woman
 searching for my soul, but no one has seen it.

If no one has seen it, said the boy, maybe you never had one.
If you never had a soul, how do you know you need one?
--Is it bigger than a breadbox?

She never found her soul, but met an honest boy.
And never met a breadbox, honest or dishonest.