give us the meat of your back
and the depth of your barrels,
bring us your kith and kin
in the underbellies of our ships.

give us your poetry, your language,
the sun and mist of your skies,
bring us the names of your children
in sweet rolls of honeyed papers.

give us the swatches of color and luck
that you keep in the dimples of your cheeks,
bring us your dark and sweet drinks,
the methods and the patience and the anger.

give us your lives, your wholeness, being,
the souls of your fathers and mothers,
bring us the blood of your flesh, wholly,
and expect the coolness of a cobblestone bed.

03/17/2009

Posted on 03/17/2009
Copyright © 2010 Jeremy Magee