Slaveships

Lucille Clifton

loaded like spoons

into the belly of Jesus

where we lay for weeks         for months

in the sweat and stink

of our own breathing

Jesus

why do you not protect us

chained to the heart of the Angel

where the prayers we never tell

and hot and red

as our bloody ankles

Jesus

Angel

can these be men

who vomit us out from ships

called Jesus      Angel      Grace of God

onto a heathen country

Jesus

Angel

ever again

can this tongue speak

can these bones walk

Grace of God

can this sin live

Fonte (versos 1-11): Pereira, E. A., org. 2010. Um tigre na floresta de signos. BH, Maza Edições. Poema publicado em livro em 1996.