We all want go back home

excerpts from Zora Neale Hurston’s “Barracoon”

photograph by A.B. Godfreed

what I know about de juju
de dogs bark
take the enemy by surprise
quietly as possible
fight him face to face
like a man
sit up wid de dead man
dey teachee us mo’ war

integrity destroyed
kill de leopard
the king sacrifices many slaves
dat my boy
hurtee his Mama
de six chillun together
clam up de side de barracoon

not so sad now
no king in ‘Merica soil
bring yo’ plate
bed and bed cover
and fetch yo’ own grub
ain’ able to work no mo’
thinkee too ‘bout my folks
and cry

memory is to be
house full of thoughts
how lonely we are too
in this still foreign land

***