Cinquain for Stanley and Livingstone

"Recontre de Livingstone," from the French translation of 

How I Found Livingstone by Henry Morton Stanley, 1876

Stanley Remembers

It was

a foolish way

to greet the man I sought

across half the dark continent.

When I

wanted 

to dance and shout,

instead in quiet awe

I said, "Doctor Livingstone, I

presume."

Afraid

he would reject

any jubilation,

I hid in the formality

of words.

© Doraine Bennett