Figures by the Lake

Its dark by the lake

(The) whites of their eyes

shine like stars

breaking

through the night sky

The space is haunted

by shadows of freedom

Groaning relief

from Matthews Great Tribulations

And crowing gratitude

for fellow shades

Its red by the lake

The life of kinfolk

Pulses into the darkness

Flowing through the eventide

Into me

Into each other

Like a sweet song

Of liberation

Its gold by the lake

Seasoned leaves make confetti

Over hidden figures

the wind is sharing

In the jubilee

Of homecoming

Its blue by the lake

silence ripples

Shored against still bodies

Yet

the tide of ovations

And communion

buoys once anchored bones

A retrieval of life

Still, time passes, inescapable

And the moment recedes

Bitter sweet

Like sunken ships

Its green by the lake

Long grass catches

On the rosy pink

Of nights cheeks

Seducing

And dancing, primly

Like lily pads

Its purple by the lake

Swaying forms grace the air

Like strange fruit

Stranger still is the

Isle of Eves children

Untouched by frost

Or greedy hunger

Its brown by the lake

Shaped earth

Walking and singing naturally

Given life

By their Mother's womb

dressed by aśe

And her passion

For foundations of unity

I throw my voice up here

by the lake

self aware

Yet

protected, in our ancestral altar