black majesty - Luis Pales Matos

Through the fiery Antillean street

Va Tembandumba de la Quimbamba

—Rumba, macumba, candombe, bambula—

Between two rows of black faces.

Before her a congo—gongo and maraca—

rhythm a conga bomba that bamba.

Culipandeando the Queen advances,

And from its immense rump they slip

horny wiggles that the congo curdles

In rivers of sugar and molasses.

Prieto sugar mill of sensual harvest,

The hippomen, dough with dough,

Squeeze rhythms, sweat that bleeds,

And the grinding culminates in dance.

Through the fiery Antillean street

It goes Tembandumba de la Quimbamba.

Turtle dove flower, rose of Uganda,

For you bombs and bambulas crackle;

For you in unbridled calendas

The Antilla burns its ñáñiga blood.

Haiti offers you its pumpkins;

Fiery rums gives you Jamaica;

Cuba tells you: come on, mulata!

And Puerto Rico: melao, melamba!

His, my cocolos with black faces.

Thunder, drums; vibrate, maracas

Through the fiery Antillean street

—Rumba, macumba, candombe, bambula—

It goes Tembandumba de la Quimbamba.

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Luis Pales Matos (1898 - 1959) Puerto Rico

Translator not stated

Source: All Poetry