Dance Girl

by Ayanna

Dance Girl,
Dance and show them our story.
Bend your back and arch your spine
until its curve seems to reflect
the Horn in days of Warrior glory,
and the waist you fling, with regal splendour
seems to carry a blessed weight;
a Jigida of pumpkin seeds.

Dance Girl,
Spread your limbs
and splay your hands,
Fingers that seem to transport, like ships,
palms that cup like cradles, or wombs
inside which futures were carried
unawares to new shores.

Dance Girl,
Fly!
Doh mind the space seem eyeless
and too broad to navigate,
the drum in your hips
and the light in your face
span centuries, and indicate the directions
where our children lie scattered,
searching.

'Cause Girl
your black form carrying
memories and cover-down dreams
Your frame is our fingerprint,
your rhythm - collective soul urgings;
A signal that the Warriors are not dead
and the Queens have not drowned
but just asleep

Girl dance until the rhythm
raise they blood and stir they soul
wake them up sister!
tell them it is time!
Dance girl
and bring the lost ones home

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