The Bridge
In his travels he comes to a bridge made entirely of bones.
Before crossing he writes a letter to his mother: Dear mother,
Guess what? the ape accidentally bit off one of his hands while
Eating a banana. Just now I am at the foot of a bone bridge. I
Shall be crossing it shortly. I don’t know if I shall find hills and
Valleys made of flesh on the other side, or simply constant
Night, villages of sleep. The ape is scolding me for not teaching
Him better. I am letting him wear my pith helmet for
Consolation. The bridge looks like one of those skeletal
Reconstructions of a huge dinosaur one sees in a museum. The
Ape is looking at the stump of his wrist and scolding me again.
I offer him another banana and he gets very furious, as though
I’d insulted him. Tomorrow we cross the bridge. I’ll write to
You from the other side if I can; if not, look for a sign. . .
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