An Ill Son - Bambara

The night when I first saw you

Your skull made all the skin on your face shine

Skin pulled so tight

Dancing with dark eyes

Like holes as black as coal

As bright as night flickering out

I have become an ill son

Your love chewed right through the rope and chicken wire

Like a pulsing fire

When they see me now, they see it too

Your cheekbones push glowing domes out of my chest

Translucent and red

I can’t sleep

I’m hurting

The night I saw you dancing

Your snakes went wild when I was told they’d be asleep

Hanging down to your feet

I knew that you’d be my red glow

My sickness grown out of the night flickering out

I can’t sleep

I’m hurting

Back then

Fresh tattoo on your wrist

When you told me that

Your father feeds you feathers

While your mother feels the weather in her bones

It’s not the wind that moans

It’s deep within the forest

And the leaves that fall before us will be consumed

They know the rules

I can’t sleep

I’m burning

Ash falls out of my mouth

And you’re not here