NKISI–NKONDI
The contract is only valid
when everyone believes
in the same magic.
MONEY
…..“With whom is the Courtesan’s contract made?”
She whose business is:
the manipulation of all parties
(including herself)
to her own best advantage.
Christlike she is
hero + victim of her own story.
……“The party of the second part is the Blacksmith.”
He whose hands are rough,
hard and dark as the hammer
he brings against the red point
of the witnessing nail.
NKISI–NKONDI
The contract is only valid
when everyone believes
in the same magic.
MONEY
LANGUAGE
A mantra to keep her head
above water : old words
– the end justifies the means
– one must hold power to create it
– an unalienable right to the pursuit of happiness
she reasons along the switch-back,
forked path,
the yellow wood;
…..worn thin by fine-shod feet of
…..courtesan,
…..consul,
…..cardinal,
……………..the prime minister
……………..the snake in the garden.
Things fall apart.
NKISI–NKONDI
The contract is only valid
when everyone believes
in the same magic.
MONEY
LANGUAGE
ETHICS
Forged of finer stuff
her slender circle glints around
the blacksmith’s rough hands
hard and dark as the hammer he rings
against the truth of the nail.
Iron wedges open wood’s yellow grain.
The courtesan’s ring corrupts his grip.
Yet, the nail is driven –
…..her gaze darts away from
…..open eyes || death’s mirror
He sees.
He sees.
Yet,
He believes.
The courtesan’s ring corrupts his grip
…………………………………corrupts the nail
…………………………………denies the magic
…………………………………of open eyes:
it’s all for sale.
To hear a reading of this poem, click on the player below:
To read more poems by this poet, click HERE.
Bonnie McClellan-Broussard 
Grazie Bonnie, mi piace molto
Grazie Luca, sono molto contenta che ti ha piaciuto.
Deeply interesting poem, Bonnie. I feel the power of those repetitions and the expanding circle of the headlines: money + language + ethics.
Thank you John, I began composing this poem over a year ago in response to a situation that involved ‘good faith’ in business but by the time I had completed it the news cycle had begun to echo all of those themes.