I Am Afrika


I am the deep abyss of the dark continent
     the loneliness of the shifting Saharan sands
     the birth of the Nile
     and the pounding rhythm of the jungle
I am the quiet heart of the elephant’s graveyard
     and the desperate thunder of vast grasslands
I am the golden sun dripping into Atlantis
     and the burning rain of ancient blood
I am the shores of oceans and seas
     and the migration of endless skies
I am the Uud, the Djembe and the Kora
     dancing in the Kalahari midnight
I am descendent of first woman
     and ancestor to the end of man
I am the precious diamond of a forgotten treasure
     the moonlight falling upon crumbling pyramids
     the sleepless dream of Marrakech
I am the last cheetah running until my life explodes
I am the gazelle and the lion
     stolen to a far horizon
I am sorrow sold into slavery

I am Afrika

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Norman Cristofoli has published several chapbooks of poetry/prose plus two audio compilations of spoken word performances. He published the “Labour of Love” literary magazine for 25 years and was the co-founder of the “Coffeehouse” artist networking site. His play “The Pub” was recently published with CanamBooks. A new poetry book will be available this fall.