Lalin Bel
Watch her.
Watch how she hangs
In the eastern sky.
Watch how she sits coldly,
And quietly,
On the frosted window sill.
Look at her and know
That you are no longer looking out
Toward the cold, grumbling river
Of the so called old world,
But that you are now seeing reflections
From wilder waters.
Lalin Bel
It is she who holds the memories of the
Warm, rough seas that beat against
A rugged island.
Do you remember?
Do you remember when she
First came out of the sea?
Remember how she pushed
Her milky head out of the
Pitch lake ocean,
And how she sat on the water’s edge?
The fiery stars were there too,
Brushed across the inky dome
Like glittering sand.
Now,
Look.
Watch how she covers her face
With wispy, frosted clouds.
Watch how she hides herself in shame.
Lalin Bel
They too bathed in the pitch lake sea,
And they too made fires burn bright
On the cool, starry sand.
Do you remember?
Do you remember the pearls in the sky
And the pearls in their eyes?
Do you remember
The sound of the bats
Flapping in the shady trees
And the squeaking of their feet
On the cool powdery shores?
Lalin Bel
Please,
Zanmi mwen,
Tell me that you remember.
Tell me that you remember the cracking
And the popping of the
dry coconut husks.
Remember,
The thick ashy smoke
That flushed the buzzing mosquitos
Out of the houses.
The driftwood that went up in flames
of deep reds, and yellows,
And blues.
Lalin Bel
Remember how they woke the next morning,
Remember how the sun was harsh and
How it burnt their eyes.
Remember how the fires had burnt down to ash and how
The sea had carried away their castles.
Now,
It is only shadows that dance
On the chip-chipped shore.
Now,
The rough sea
Swallows the stars.
And now,
The wind skims lightly
Over the ocean’s oily face.
----
Their laughter was pure that night,
But it was swept away
By the breeze.
Wi,
Zanmi mwen,
Lalin bel, bel, bel.
