Dungeness crab
testimony
liquid ankles
boneless
dancing
in the breakers
across notes
seduced
from silent flutes
rivers of blood
flow frozen
like icicles bearing
vitality
to the sea
unconscious
ancestral
injury
fights its way
between
tongue and teeth
vomited red
pungent
onto hot stones
sizzles
past dreaming
melts the frost
graffiti witness
written by
crabs
scuttling sideways
on the sand
Copyright © 2014 Sharon Elliott. All Rights Reserved.
A wee giftie for the Mom’s who have made the transition. Inspired by the birthplace of Bessie Smith.
she roam roun
a moan tree
howl in the bury patch
bone picked clean
dark hide she sound
back groan moon
drum say krakkk!
blue gone goose
HOLLER
Copyright © 2014 Sharon Elliott. All Rights Reserved.
murderous crows
speaking
in tongues
craaaw craww, arkkkj
a language
recognized as
belonging to the Mothers
say prepare
leap the fire
of spirit
sanctify
new growth
generative fornication
verifies
effort made massive
small
upright stone
wide with promise
anointed with water and oil
burnishes
blue people
who move forward
pregnant
with hope
to birth
unorthodox nativity
Copyright © 2014 Sharon Elliott. All Rights Reserved.
Art by Aaron PaquetteDeath Bringer plays
Death Bringer plays
a melancholy waltz
on a button accordion
says
humans
are an enigma
in their ugliness
and their beauty
how the same thing
can be both
a riddle with no reply
cloaked in thunder
mystery
seeps into bones
made of jellyfish
and lead
everything
is stuck behind clouds
waiting
live the years
wisely
with reckless abandon
take care
not to be too careful
in the slow
inexorable twisting
of the spine
revolution rhythm
a dance emerges
graced by whispers
in the red night
mumbles
carry messages
too still
for ears
to hear
unless attention
is paid
give thanks
for eyes
with vision
blessed by spirits
hiding clarity
but showing faces
in the carpet
down the hall
that which is breathing
contains the secret word
blown by closed lips
into sacred union
with stones
what is awaiting transition
won’t have to wait long
a split second
rides the wind
catches the ferry
rests
in the depths
Copyright © 2014 Sharon Elliott. All Rights Reserved.
Yemaya’s necklace, beach on Beauly firth near Inverness, Scotland
Oshun’s power, river near Inverness, Scotland
Sister
I am ocean
fire dances above the stones over which I swim
Sister
you are shivering across soft sand
coral biting your feet
drawing blood
blood that feeds the earth
births the fire.
Children of the stones
our progeny
my heart splits open
for a thousand years
I carry you
against my liquid skin
we recognize each other
by the way our fingers stroke seaweed hair
to calm our frightened babies
by the way our hearts teach them to love
I live beside you
above you
below you
around you
My lips lay themselves in the hollow of your salty throat
feed upon your pulse
Sister
I owe you nothing
I give you everything
I open my liquid eyes to your turquoise light
and call you….
me
Photos and poem, copyright © 2014 Sharon Elliott. All Rights Reserved.
Cuillin Mountains, Isle of Skye, Inner Hebrides, Scotland
(assisted by Jolaoso Pretty thunder and Rara Tou Limen)
Behind mountains there be mountains
A song that has been singing for a long time
Remember, bow down before a westing flame
Earth is paying attention
Poem and photo copyright © 2014 Sharon Elliott. All Rights Reserved.
This poem combines the prompts to write a poem in the voice of a family member, and to write a children’s poem. In this case I offer a message to my infant self in the silenced voice of an enslaved African ancestor, with all the love and gratitude I hold for her.
you a treasure
by n by
I call the mother
in the sky
her skirt be made
of shell and sea
gather round
you tiny mesee your eyes
so blue n clear
skin as light
as ginger beerdanger comes
hold you close
invisibility
gives up the ghostsometime soon
I say my name
unwrap my head
mokekere gamegift to you
so strong and free
plant ancestor
ceiba treelearn to dance
sing out loud
keep the light
wash the shroudcalabash
pull all the tears
shoulda been shed
over the yearshum a notion
bake a pie
shmm
say spirits flyin bythem white folks tried
to bring you down
put your spirit
in the groundyup they did
the same to me
door kreen open
show the seatake a good look
at the water
you sweet chile
are the ocean’s daughterblack folks
rise you up one day
send your behind
out to playdop dip dop
rain come down
clean the blood
from out the groun’you n me
we hold handsnever
let
go
Copyright © 2014 Sharon Elliott. All Rights Reserved.
(Ogun Aarere ko ma se yawo)
danced since years in Congo Square
all alone
white skin flash
nothing to wear
singing
high throat conjure cry
oriki Ogun
machete slash
clearing brush
epo stained
rafia skirt
under cobble stones
cowries twisted round my waist
fed from marrow in my bones
Copyright © 2014 Sharon Elliott. All Rights Reserved.
thick waters flow heavy
water must be very clean
to hold the sorrow
of stars
transparent
like shards of glass
strewn across a level field
nobody home
to light a candle
for wandering souls
whose hearts were rendered
over a campfire
cooking trout for breakfast
crackles in the dark
spend devalued currency
on things that do not matter
while rivers run muddy
with blue black blood
and dirty disasters
can water be washed
what is used to scour
the cleansing tool that has been fouled
water must be very clean
Copyright © 2014 Sharon Elliott. All Rights Reserved.
as if
I needed
breath
it
came to me
invisible
as water
burden-heavy
disconsolate
the way
ink
is
transparent
vivid
as a bruise
grace
given
to stones
Copyright © 2014 Sharon Elliott. All Rights Reserved.
inspired by Camille T. Dungy, “There are these moments of permission”
The Change 