Orchards

Millions upon millions
Serpents hatched of sins of others
Infest the orchards

Underneath …

Caribbean mother
Giving birth
To a child
Wearing her noble skin

Of piety …
Of righteousness …

Her heavenly brown skin
The only Armour
Warding against the
Sinful bites

Sins she did not commit
Of serpents …
Hatched of sins of others

Her full lips
The only antidote
Fluttering in ocean breeze
Of Allah’s words

Her gaze upon
Forbidden wealth of others
Desiring none for her
All for her child

Born underneath …

The infested orchards
Of sins of others
Where she bestows
Upon her newborn
The pious garment...
Of her brown skin


Introduction

These poems are self-portraits of who I am. And the black woman is my mirror to look upon and behold myself as I am.
While other poets look into the mountain peeks, forests or oceans for answers/imagery , I looked into her skin.
These poems are FOUND when my words have ended and my desire for life has extinguished.

Dara Shayda                     July 2002


Sunset       I Am      Child-like Hands      Un-shattered Mirror      Quilt    

Turkmen Stallion       I Stand     Drunken Gardner   Silent Sage     Blade

The Tailor     Haitian Eulogy      The Ever-Scultptor    Embossed Love                              

The Stalactites        The Traverller    Crystalberries     The Dog!    Wallflowers      

The Watchmaker      The African Mother      Father of Dust      Flower of Pradise          

Silent Persian Prayers       Serene Rapids        Fragrance of Loyalty    Hold My Hand

Eyelashes's Broom           Sobbing Hawk        She      The Fallen Leaf        

The Shattered Mirror        Nubian Baptism    The Chasm      The Osprey               

The Quill     The Minnow     Take Me Along     The Eyeliner      You & I   

The Windows    Serpent      The Harvest    The Astrolabe        Mystic Language  

That Day      Wall of Pleasure     The Prophet's Pearl    Mapou Tree     Sultan of Hearts   

You & I 

Background


© 2004-2002,  Dara O. Shayda