Nzinga

i could watch it, like a wall,
hidden and tapestried,
blocking the space between.
dawn as my witness,
i whispered heresies,
like so much spindled light, flowing,
silk-like.
[who will hear them?]
tests of faith, of power -
in the far-skies, calculating, there is an angry god.

Saharan flowers, they crumble,
they stain, also.
i have seen them, [a multitude, a host]
storm the coast, they have penetrated,
and we are no longer virgin.
with my last breaths
i defy,
i resolve,
i release.
with my last breath
i have let go.