Song of the Little Road

Martine Bellen

Characters

Apu—boy of six
Durga—girl of eight
Auntie—“Father’s” mother, old bag of bones
Oaf
Mother—disillusioned
Father—impotent
same ol same ol
Neekamel—God
Fruit has no name on it
learning to love generously

Bamboo birds and girls in gardens

Oil, salt, chilies stolen from the kitchen

like a fork in the road

the orchard is private property

Auntie: Must I ask for chilies & guava at my age? And anyway, fruit has no name on it.

The candyman always wants 
more than the sweets he offers

He promotes desire, discord
with his Halvah and fudge

Mother drags daughter
by her beautiful mane
beads and seeds fall from her
magic box—cowries

inadmissible
desires
dying’s
the easy part
like shutting off the projector and sitting in the dark

Afterwards brother finds her
precious booty. Neekamel keeps guard.

Mother: This home is like living in the forest!
No one to talk to.

We stop looking
At the other

Apu: There’s a ghost in the water.

This is about monsoons
towels
her seeds
buttons

his

sex

Sometimes it’s necessary to leave home.