Migrations

BY DORIAN MERINA

Water rocks the hull of the ship and the dark night comes on the waves

against the dark wood taken from the forests on the island

the people sleep or fight to sleep or smoke the coarse-leaved tobacco

with cans of saltwater at hand nearby for threat of fire

the people dream of rich goods and silk and land and sea

slender bars of chocolate hidden in the trunk with jewelry

stuffed below the bed the people dream of fire and awake

to the damp air salt in the throat and cough to awake

to the dark night that comes on the waves against the dark wood

taken from the hands of the people from the forest on the Island

as the ship moves East leaving the water of the Islands bays rocks and close current

into open sea along the Black Current the Black Sivo the current

that runs along the Islands of the North and takes the ship

into the waters of open sea

On the boats come the goods that cross the waters

like veins and blood rushing

the goods cross the waters

raw silk in bundles the fineness of two strands

thin untwisted silk

white scarlet blue mustard wound in small skeins

quantities of velvets gold embroidered with gold woven and brocades

silver thread upon silk in patterns detailed and rich

damasks satin taffetas linen from the grass called lencesuelo

musk benzoin ivory metal basins copper cast iron pots

bed ornaments hangings coverlets tapestries of different shades

horse-trappings finished with glass beads seed-pearls rubies sapphires

crystals nails sheet-iron tin lead salt petre

gunpowder wheat flour preserves of orange peach pear nectarine plums

cherries nutmeg pepper ginger salt pork chestnuts walnuts chicueyes

thread needles thimbles cushions pins boxes

writing cases engraved with scenes of bamboo and waves

moons and mist

beds chairs gilded benches buffalos geese swans horses males asses

caged birds that sing birds that talk

birds the color of ash the color of sunrise

rum is the cane’s sugar water

invented from smart mouths of slaves

discarded impurities boiled to a bitter blackness

rough as gravel

so unwanted they lined the lips of rain ditches

calcium rich tips

of animal hooves

mixing with rain dirt and mud

old leaves fiber and mangrove

the unwanted collected

yet

in the rich dirt purity of need

a sweetness beyond sweetness

the seven o clock sweat

of an unwashed neck

hair fibers and cane pulp

the foaming rush of juice and song

beaten into barefoot psalms

the simple chemistry of this

distillation of a kiss

thirst

and a word like rum

and a word like…

achuete

atole

avocado

balsa

banqueta

cachuete

calabaza

camachile

camote

calachuche

chico

chocolate

coyote

nanay

tatay

tiangui

tocayo

zacate

zapote

On the boats come the blood that cross the waters

like veins and goods the blood comes

crossing the waters

Blanco y India = Mestizo

Mestizo y Mestiza = Mulato

Blanca y Mulata = Terceron, Morisco

Indio y Torna-atras = Lobo

Indio y Negra = Zambo

Indio y No te entiendo = Ahi te estas

Indio y Coyota = Chamiso

Indio y Loba = Grifo

Negro y Mulato = Galfaro

Negro y Zamba = Zambo prieto

Mulato y Barzina = Coyote

Mulato (o Chino) y Loba = Jibaro

Mulato y Tente en el aire = No te entiendo

On the boats come the blood

the blood

a shadow of water

dampens

the curling script of graffiti

a swirling necklage

of smooth-abdomened ants

carry blond eggs

on their backs

the plumb jaws of larvae

undulating

green tufts of grass

shoulder concrete

exhaling in small shatterings

the day’s weightlessness

the sky

the revolting face

of an enraged

and tender lover

promises a flashing echo

and wind

when the rain comes again

you will remember

a certain origin

a canopy of molecules and mist

you will forget to want yourself

a different shade a different shape

instead

another bed

of injury and faith

a quiet quiet some

thing

no stronger than a leaf

or a wave

taking shape