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