Mango Harvest

The harvest arrived but this year,

all the mangoes

had dropped in rotten brown lumps

on the ground beneath the tree

the flies feasted on the rot

in thick black clouds

and the hum could be heard for miles around.

the roots of the hundred year old mango tree

shriveled, it's body came tumbling down

it's browning leaves scattered around it'

there were no mangoes to eat

for the rest of the year

and because of this

the children turned mute

and they had nothing to share between them

as they sat on the bank of the river

with their stories hidden behind their clenched teeth.