My Luxury

As I recall

the sweet essence of mother’s milk,

I envision shades of green

towering over me like a uterus

as vast as the stars above us allow us to see,

tucked in by aquatic borders like cocoon’s silk

Sunlight remains luminous

as it leaks through the shadows

and into my bed as I lay wrapped in my shawl

I hear tranquil waters and small passing ships,

enough to hear Yemaya’s dance

pushing and pulling

Cathartic melodies then flood into my skin,

flow through my bloodstreams,

my body in a trance,

as music moves me like a violin

she enters my lungs

finally spilling out my lips

I smell the cuisine of my ancestors,

arboraceous evocative aromas,

seasoned by the waves

accompanied by aliments from lands far away

My nostrils revive with wisps of spices and pine

Medicinal herbs overpower my stomas

delivered to the kitchen in pots made of clay,

cleansing my chest,

tongue salivating into the pressure

I taste the ocean,

perennials and fresh fruit,

smoky flavors arouse my tastebuds

As citrus quenches my thirst,

heat saturates crispy lipids

that nourish my body for the next pursuit

Every bit of myself fully immersed

when fusion discovers umami

with cooking so succulent as testimony to devotion

I feel the support of loved ones

beckoning for me to receive their warm embrace,

my shell safe and secure,

bonds rooted in trust and respect

A sensitive habitat

Everyone’s given equal emotional space

Words of affirmation direct

For all for one and one for all

is our motto we chant with the heat of a thousand suns

On one end we have peace of mind,

serenity achieved through the organic,

predictability pavloved from subcultures within culture

On the other we seek familiarity

all displayed through a cinematic screen

My roots oceanic,

born in alterity,

forever in search of belonging,

unknowing of what I might find.