The sound of chains on the roads
the songs of birds
under the humid greenery of the forest
freshness in the smooth symphony
of the palm trees
fire
fire on the grass
fire on the heat of the Cayatte plains
Wide paths
full of people full of people
an exodus from everywhere
wide paths to closed horizons
but paths
paths open atop
the impossibility of arms
Fires dance tum tum rhythm
Rhythm in light
rhythm in color
rhythm in movement
rhythm in the bloody cracks of bare feet
rhythm on torn nails
Yet rhythm
rhythm
Oh painful African voices