DIRGE FOR AHMED
By Rashidah Ismaili
Balafon
It begins with a balafon.
Cupped sounds contain
cries of wailing women.
Dust
It starts with clouds
and parting smoke.
Whitness breaks it hold
and women in white brocade weep.
Kora
It plucks sorrow from the heart.
Women wailing, stop to hear
the flapping of angels wings.
Raise their heads to see.
Water
It ends with water.
The sounds drip-drop.
Sounds of lamentations
blend and rend the heart in two.
Song
A tune haunts the throats
touches tongues tipped
with praises, with words,
help raise hopes and memories.
Memory
Spun into silken threads
history separates deeds
leaving bare, a page of history.
Balafon
Dust of white clad women
dance upon lands of Kono.
Baga masques of Simo.
Poro feet encircling anthills
come to claim the sweetness
of Koras and songs.
Yes
Yes, he was of us.
By Rashidah Ismaili
Balafon
It begins with a balafon.
Cupped sounds contain
cries of wailing women.
Dust
It starts with clouds
and parting smoke.
Whitness breaks it hold
and women in white brocade weep.
Kora
It plucks sorrow from the heart.
Women wailing, stop to hear
the flapping of angels wings.
Raise their heads to see.
Water
It ends with water.
The sounds drip-drop.
Sounds of lamentations
blend and rend the heart in two.
Song
A tune haunts the throats
touches tongues tipped
with praises, with words,
help raise hopes and memories.
Memory
Spun into silken threads
history separates deeds
leaving bare, a page of history.
Balafon
Dust of white clad women
dance upon lands of Kono.
Baga masques of Simo.
Poro feet encircling anthills
come to claim the sweetness
of Koras and songs.
Yes
Yes, he was of us.
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