We are all amphibians
breathing beneath
water, initially encased
in a placenta
contained
within maternal
flesh until
we outgrew
the pond
and dove to birth
to walk upright
on earth
no matter our solidity
the moon maintains
its pull on us
and we all long
at various
levels of awareness
to float in the tranquility
of a human sea
land is cool
but after all
there is an undertow
we can never escape
it is our nature
we are all amphibians
—kalamu ya salaam