Limbo, by Edward Kamau Brathwaite

And limbo stick is the silence in front of me
limbo

 limbo
limbo like me
limbo
limbo like me

 long dark night is the silence in front of me
limbo
limbo like me

 stick hit sound
and the ship like it ready

 stick hit sound
and the dark still steady

 limbo
limbo like me

 long dark deck and the water surrounding me
long dark deck and the silence is over me

 limbo
limbo like me

 stick is the whip
and the dark deck is slavery

 stick is the whip
and the dark deck is slavery

 limbo
limbo like me

 drum stick knock
and the darkness is over me

 knees spread wide
and the water is hiding

 limbo
limbo like me

 knees spread wide
and the dark ground is under me
down
down
down
and the drummer is calling me

limbo
limbo like me
sun coming up
and the drummers are praising me

 out of the dark
and the dumb god are raising me

 up
up
up

 and the music is saving me

 hot
slow
step

 on the burning ground.

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