The Chagall of you,
magenta hexagonal
star of you, lantern
for our journeys,
the ochre Ganesh
of you, soft trunks
curling above
melon bellies,
the cascading moon
of you, amber violin
of you, Brahms lullaby
your mama hummed,
the kanga shawl of you,
crimson and pickle
green crisp kanga
you gave me I gave you
to wrap our babies in,
“Kanga nenda na urembo,
shani urembo na shani”
“Kanga, go with beauty
and wonder, wonder
and beauty,” shani,
red thread that ties
friend to friend,
the carmines and violets
of your paintings, iris
in high sun, the palette
of years made vivid by you,
your colors I choose
from the whole world
of hues, my heart’s beat,
the youyou of you.