POEM: OUR WOMEN KEEP OUR SKIES FROM FALLING

photo by Alex Lear

 

 

graphics by Douglas Redd

OUR WOMEN KEEP OUR

SKIES FROM FALLING 

 

 

our women keep our

skies from falling

our days from dying

our nights from crying

 

carrying deep

within themselves

the sacred sun loves

of African-american lives

 

embers which fire

black generations are

securely embedded betwix

broad baobabian hips

and gleam sparkling forth

from deep lakes of

blue/black brown

dark ebony eyes

 

their song is

healing song, and

calling song, and

culture song, and

though no one can

stop the rain

 

our women keep our

skies from falling

 

—kalamu ya salaam