African Night

Blood moon, huge and slow
Winks at me with different face
Unhurried ascent

No man made light shouts
Stars without competition
The show is theirs whole

Off in the distance
The sound of heaven rings out
Sung by hutted friends

Loud and unfettered
Unaware of audience
Harmonies in full

To the creator
An offering lifted up
With full abandon

On the horizon
My eyes find burning camp fires
Of communal song

Standing next to me
I nudge the elbow of God
And whisper softly,

“Can you hear all that?
That ancient fragrant music?”
He waited a beat.

The songs still in full
A smile colored his voice
“I know,” he replied.

“With the joy of life
They offer this every night,
And I’m always here.

Tonight, I share it.”
My wet tears of gratitude
Became one with earth.

My ears overwhelmed,
I yearned for another sense
To engage it more:

To taste or smell it
And have it be part of me
Attached forever.

So God and I stood
With the stillness of listening
Aware of glory

I don’t know how long;
Time tried its normal counting
But we hid from it

Standing still
And we drank it together.
Temba, his arms wide.