Stuck Ape

This yellow stick,
is it for picking nits?
I try, but my hand is stuck,
thick with cloth, wrapped
onto this stick,

and always those strange apes
watch that bound hand,
watch me not picking nits,
and their lips hiss air,
whispering in urgency.

They make sounds to the stick.
They call it "writing" and
"god," and I slowly learn
with fumbling fingers
to pick nits with
my other hand.