One rarely sees a vessel filled with so much peace. Absolute peace, I truly witnessed. But how, I wondered as I watched it with a bit of sympathy and a bit of jealousy.

 

It was a kite neither red, nor blue. It was black with some patches of brown, lying on the hot red floor. The cruel sun must have stolen its colour. I was standing over it, watching and simultaneously protecting it from the harsh rays coming from the yellow bellybutton of the sky. I slowly bent down, approaching towards the black dry brush strokes… and I saw something. I saw an eye.                                                    

 

‘Come let’s go.’                                                       

My father called.                                                   

‘It’s dead… and we’re getting late.’                                      

The eye was shut. I went closer as I couldn’t resist, sat down and looked at it.

 

Silence                                                                  

 

a cracked voice broke the silence.

 

the black kite  said with its eyes closed.

 

My hands felt its light, fragile skull dangling gently from its body as I carried the lifeless figure. I gently put it down under a dwarf tree. With its eyes still closed, the black kite rested satisfactorily.