Afro

Whereas these strands, well-oiled & diligent in their parts, & appearing
in tensile character an iron cloud-net several times the diameter of the
head—these strands have I, in passing conduct, fidelity, & stewardship,
in all protein & mineral accompaniments, in darkness of kerchief &
darkness of hands, these have I spirited across the snow & the Amer-
ican seas, from thence to plinths & palettes opportune for discharge
of this trust—these strands, which rest in trust to me & which I have
dragged a small way into this Country, seeking & halting, desirous to
prevent mishap, the undue severance of charge, the tease, the crop &
bang, desirous only of those victuals which may furniture my constant
guard—whereas for this have I gainsaid the touch of free-hooter, the
tang of searover & divers others—drinkers, tinkers, kings & clothiers
all. These strands, wherein silence bides, close as horses in an afternoon
of rain, these ropes which rise against containment & the blur of slang,
for these do I come forth in torrents, do I come forth in tenderness &
earth do I come forth in rage for these, for these.

Copyright © 2009 Kiki Petrosino All rights reserved
from Harvard Review
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission