brigdh

in the village underground by cheryl boyce-taylor
underground in the village
of this veiled city
where the subway does its iron dance

air removes itself
from bodies grown thick
and sweet with sweat
eyes round and hard
dull as rusted metal

underground there is a fear inside me
heavy as a hand
beneath our city
the music of river runs in stages

collides with nightmares
and all our dreams run together
the dull hooves of silence closing in

it is raining in my village underground
family woes run together
slick as sewer rats
not one goddamn thing
matches this wail

one begs money for homeless
offers food
she looks hungrier than most
one begs money to break dance
body contorts into seizures

newly out of hospital
another begs money for
medications

with bells and maracas
four men beat drums
sing poetry evoke Yoruba

their women drill white
wail in spanglish

call Ogun, Ogun father of metal
road master of the underground

and all her saints
all her gods fall to the floor
i know her eyes
i know that call

there is a fear inside me
heavy as a hand
my second skin
a flaming city