Migrations

Water rocks the hull of the ship and the dark night comes on the waves against the dark wood taken from the forests on the island the people sleep or fight to sleep or smoke the coarse-leaved tobacco with cans of saltwater at hand nearby for threat of fire the people dream of rich goods and silk and land and sea slender bars of chocolate hidden in the trunk with jewelry stuffed below the bed the people dream of fire and awake to the damp air salt in the throat and cough to awake to the dark night that comes on the waves against the dark wood taken from the hands of the people from the forest on the Island as the ship moves East leaving the water of the Islands bays rocks and close current into open sea along the Black Current the Black Sivo the current that runs along the Islands of the North and takes the ship into the waters of open sea On the boats come the goods that cross the waters like veins and blood rushing the goods cross the waters raw silk in bundles the fineness of two strands thin untwisted silk white scarlet blue mustard wound in small skeins quantities of velvets gold embroidered with gold woven and brocades silver thread upon silk in patterns detailed and rich damasks satin taffetas linen from the grass called lencesuelo musk benzoin ivory metal basins copper cast iron pots bed ornaments hangings coverlets tapestries of different shades horse-trappings finished with glass beads seed-pearls rubies sapphires crystals nails sheet-iron tin lead salt petre gunpowder wheat flour preserves of orange peach pear nectarine plums cherries nutmeg pepper ginger salt pork chestnuts walnuts chicueyes thread needles thimbles cushions pins boxes writing cases engraved with scenes of bamboo and waves moons and mist beds chairs gilded benches buffalos geese swans horses males asses caged birds that sing birds that talk birds the color of ash the color of sunrise rum is the cane’s sugar water invented from smart mouths of slaves discarded impurities boiled to a bitter blackness rough as gravel so unwanted they lined the lips of rain ditches calcium rich tips of animal hooves mixing with rain dirt and mud old leaves fiber and mangrove the unwanted collected yet in the rich dirt purity of need a sweetness beyond sweetness the seven o clock sweat of an unwashed neck hair fibers and cane pulp the foaming rush of juice and song beaten into barefoot psalms the simple chemistry of this distillation of a kiss thirst and a word like rum and a word like rum and a word like… achuete atole avocado balsa banqueta cachuete calabaza camachile camote calachuche chico chocolate coyote nanay tatay tiangui tocayo zacate zapote On the boats come the blood that cross the waters like veins and goods the blood comes crossing the waters Blanco y India = Mestizo Mestizo y Mestiza = Mulato Blanca y Mulata = Terceron, Morisco Indio y Torna-atras = Lobo Indio y Negra = Zambo Indio y No te entiendo = Ahi te estas Indio y Coyota = Chamiso Indio y Loba = Grifo Negro y Mulato = Galfaro Negro y Zamba = Zambo prieto Mulato y Barzina = Coyote Mulato (o Chino) y Loba = Jibaro Mulato y Tente en el aire = No te entiendo On the boats come the blood the blood the blood a shadow of water dampens the curling script of graffiti a swirling necklage of smooth-abdomened ants carry blond eggs on their backs the plumb jaws of larvae undulating green tufts of grass shoulder concrete exhaling in small shatterings the day’s weightlessness the sky the revolting face of an enraged and tender lover promises a flashing echo and wind when the rain comes again you will remember a certain origin a canopy of molecules and mist you will forget to want yourself a different shade a different shape instead another bed of injury and faith a quiet quiet some thing no stronger than a leaf or a wave taking shape Water rocks the hull of the ship and the dark night comes on the waves against the dark wood taken from the forests on the island the people sleep or fight to sleep or smoke the coarse-leaved tobacco with cans of saltwater at hand nearby for threat of fire the people dream of rich goods and silk and land and sea slender bars of chocolate hidden in the trunk with jewelry stuffed below the bed the people dream of fire and awake to the damp air salt in the throat and cough to awake to the dark night that comes on the waves against the dark wood taken from the hands of the people from the forest on the Island as the ship moves East leaving the water of the Islands bays rocks and close current into open sea along the Black Current the Black Sivo the current that runs along the Islands of the North and takes the ship into the waters of open sea