Venice masks

Sunday 31 August 2014

Lament in ebony - Jessica Horn

arms are meant for embracing
minds to cultivate dreams of flight

I see you blackchild
ebony skin and white teeth
resident of shadowlands
the carcass of Gulu town

morning has mothered no millet
afternoon no tea
howling belly full of gunfire
rumbling like raging sky

arms are meant for embracing
minds to cultivate dreams of flight

I see you blackhild
camouflage and swagger
patrolling Harlseden pavements
playground of rebels with no cause

dawn rises on broken bottles
dusk on spliffs and rock
howling belly full of gunfire
yearning for a new high

arms are meant for embracing
minds to cultivate dreams of flight

Jessica Horn (20th century) Uganda

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