First, months

of flash, thud, shudder,

then the wailing...

                            Months,

that's half a young cat's life

Stand in line

they said.

So he did.

Toe the line

they said.

So he did.

Sign on

the dotted line

they said.

So he did.

Spices and gold once cast a spell
On bearded men in caravels.

New World New World cried history
Old World Old World sighed every tree.

Thomas Farynor, Baker to the King,
Left his oven burning with the firewood nearby.
The embers muttered, the little flames took wing

Behind you
Windrush child
palm trees wave goodbye

above you
Windrush child
seabirds asking why

around you
Windrush child
blue water rolling by

In the beginning was the word
and the word is ours:

the names of places,
the names of flowers,
the name of names,
words are ours.