Ebony Soul
_____by Aparna Das

 

Lean supple Limbs frame Ebony Bones
Gleaming Eyes as round and white as Eggs
Tight Conch-muscles stretch, warmly embracing Sun-bleached Teeth
Ebony Soul as blue as Night, as dark as the rich River Soil
Smooth firm young Skin aged with traces of the ancient Nile,
running from the depths of those mystical Eyes
Slit Button coiling into the smooth Belly... joining into the Womb-to-be
Breasts as ripe as sweet Mangos
Nipples as taut as Kilamanjaro's Peaks
She is Africa's Maid...
Dumba Dumba Dum... Dumba Dumba Dum
Arms and Legs rejoice in ecstasy
Body pulsates, embodying the Drum's low murmurs

Body breaks, cracking under the Whip... Continents away
Arms and Legs fly, flailing
you cannot hold down my Spirit
you cannot hold Me down
you have sucked Me dry, yet the Milky foams of turgid Rivers still flow from my Peaks
you have ravaged my Skin, yet I still reap rich Harvests
you have scorched my Eyes, yet I see the Sun... I see the Moon
The Darkness you subject me to comes only from your Ignorance
It is your hands that veil your eyes from the Truth... from Respect
So pry your fingers off your face, baby, and Look at Me... Acknowledge Me
'Cause I am Everywhere
I am in Every Soul... even yours