the tribe

4 atiyah

I weave threads of glistening midnight
into a robe of dreams
tied off by a sash of northern lights
my hair is silvered with moondust
my beard a tropical mountain rainforest
embroidering my new moon face
I am black as intergalactic space
&    celestial as any star

my tribe is human —
in hues of every shade of night
           om dusk to dawn
           noble and strong

our history is immeasurably long —
we have a number for millions of years
our expressions are evocative
yet simple
balancing and blending our hearts and minds —
we aspire to the divine

our women are leaders
                     warriors
&                  nurturers too
but then, so are our men
we each are whole
we each know our role
&        live lives of harmony

we are not easily recognized
by those who read exteriors
when we choose to be revealed
                      to have our presence sensed as real
it is by forces felt, but unseen
      by spirits stirring in between
we transcend dimensions

demiurge
titans of old
wisdom walking the world…

for those who fear what they don’t understand
we are the gleam of legend
but, for now, I am seen as an ordinary man
or less, if that is what’s needed

by time and wind and war
the tribe now is scattered
many have lost the vision
                forgotten turtle island
&             abandoned the wisdom of our ways

but the coming days are the hardest yet
and when you put pressure on the black
glistening diamonds is what you get
when their memories come rushing back
&     their eyes are cleared of the haze
all the tribe will gather…

..and legends will live again

 
by

jamal
ali

© 19 july 1995