I Am Africa

I am Africa I. Distant And lonely I am The barren land Of untoward change, The empty womb, The amputated hands, I am The Maker of new worlds I am Africa. I am The broken voice Of the tall woman who undid The family knot Set my caged birds free And set traps to owls and falcons I am The step to freedom I am Africa. I am Gorée Dahomey Porto-Novo Bimbia And the boat That sailed to the New Land. I am The aftermath of revolutions, Theories and tempests. I am The dark forest no longer at ease The things fall apart Hopes and impediments Leurres et lueurs. I am not The other world of the Heart Of darkness nor the wrath in Return to my native land I am Neither Aids nor Ebola. What then am I? Or what else am I? Douala, January 1st, 2014