A Cry From Africa

Notes: This poem was written for Kylie Wilson, a person I met while having dinner with David Caplan, the current Health Minister of Ontario. I was especially inspired by her tales of exotic travel to Africa. The style of this poem is what I call “synthesis poetry” – the construction of poetic content through the deliberate incorporation of various allusions in order to create a montage.

A Cry From Africa

by Randy Ai

Riverrun, past Eve and Adam's, from swerve of shore to bend of bay
To which this Tanzania, hot and lucid, serves as reminder, say:
Young Kylie, batten upon the bloodstreams of the veldt
A fierce body against the tyranny, moist and felt
Leads her to an overwhelming question: What is Africa to Me?

Copper sun or scarlet sea, jungle star or jungle tree
In the heart of darkness, she finds roots of relish sweet.
Her land – a strong bronzed man in regal black and clay
A glorious lover, who will burst to illumine this day
His heart was going like mad and yes she said yes I will Yes.

© Randy Ai, 2008