POEM + AUDIO: I HAVE MY MOTHER'S HANDS

photo by Alex Lear 

 

 

 

 

 

 

i have my mother's hands

 

though cancer claimed 

my mother's body decades ago 

inola's reincarnation remains within me

a deeply treasured and unerring auditor—

an inquisitive, music loving child

with eyes wide bright and earth brown

whose trusting reach upthrusting 

to clasp a helping man's hand 

unclenches the maleness of my fist 

and continually causes my essence 

to cup the strength of masculine fingers 

into the soft of a flesh spoon

emulating and saluting the feminine 

gesture of giving unconditionally

 

—kalamu ya salaam

_________________

 

Music: "Reflections" by Thelonious Monk

Kalamu ya Salaam – vocals

Frank Bruckner – guitar

 

 


 

Recorded: June 14, 1998 – "ETA Theatre" Munich, Germany