neglected vows

vows neglected


"...Oh land of fairest beauty
we vow our lives to duty
and vow this day
and vow this day to serve thee..."


trembling beneath our feet
gazing lovingly
our new fluttering flag
unaware our unborn not free
of post-modern terror

lingering ailment
scourge of inequality
manifests
such vulgarity not bashful

descendants of Columbus
dictated the voyage forward
we still draw water and
tend to massa's venal estates

we pledged our lives
to serve a nation
now limping along
bearing scars of unnecessary trials

this is my mother trinago
here poui still blooms
manatee in seclusion
as leather-backs lay eggs
crabs run at full moon
caiman there about

land of fairest beauty
where/here slain innocents
are accepted

still the poor folks
defending rubbished road blocks
or rummaging
at la basse
neglecting public health
polluting environment
as ink dries on signed contracts with foreign concerns
for further pillage of resources

=

poem from "ORISHA SONGS FOR CELINA"

for modibo who reconnected

for modibo who reconnected

after years we
were
a-part

separ-
rated

but never lost o(-)r un
-connected to the
vine
torns an’ leaves
may have ignored
our aging... happy
that fateful
machete of fragility
came near us not

i have spoken your names

over meals...
on hills, valleys
swollen river banks
at universities...on ether waves
classrooms
in the silence of my ajoupa
on streets
where uncaring is acceptable

sacred memories of
strewn almonds
as carpet at our feet

the longest days pass every year
men no longer sing
an’ i miss your counsel

wise words of encouragement
all you shared
with that brash youngster armed with exercise book an’ ballpoint pen
is proven
truth

© rk ▲

published in DIALOGUE journal for Cultural Literacy

no1/vol.3