Disinformation — A Tale of Two Pigeons

Photo by diana on Unsplash

It was the age of disinformation
up was down
down was up
the labels right and left had become inflexible children
abandoned on a nun’s doorstep
eager for somebody, any body,
to take them in

In the morning Machel pushed his leg
into his trousers
scratched his testicles while rummaging
in his boxers to ensure things were properly settled

His wife Mariam laid back lazily against the bed sheets
her eyes half-open but mired in dreaming
the air from her snoring lifted the tips of the pillow case
like tiny bird wings fluttering

It is the time for work
the days of dogs and men Machel winked
Mariam stared at him but continued dreaming

The air in the apartment was stale
there was no leavening
it laid about them flat
and thick like a crusty blanket
spent of its usefulness