Sharrif Simmons
One thousand pieces
One thousand pieces
there are long silences in me
they come to me
as they have come to millions
in them are roads
narrrow paths
with no signs or light
nor intimidation
only the silence of pure darkness
undisturbed by the beat of the dragon´s heart
i place my foot slowly
carefully
onto the path
the sensation invites me to walk further
i breathe silent air
no earth on my feet
without movement
i float along the thinning street
there are more silences
now than ever in my life
a universal peace that rips me into a thousand pieces
each part is suddenly renamed
i am Allah
i am Krishna
i am Jesus
i am Buddha
i am Vishnu and Ogun
i am Shiva
i am Osiris
i am Odin and Zeus
Pavrati and Kali
Elegba and Oshun
i am one thousand pieces
bursting into the midnight canvas
my colors are no longer of this rainbow
i´m walking in unison with the answers to my questions
and the deep nest of black clouds
i am Elohim
Moses
Mohammed
and Thor
in parade with the Valkryies
i am the madness of King George
i am Isis and Rah
Ahnknaton and Horus
a clap of miracles and lightening shatters the dark sky
the illumination blinds me
sinking me further into the silence of the still mind
in my mind i see this same road
on it walks a child
it is a girl
her features are thin
her skin is deep black
her hair is even darker
and sparkles with grey streaks
she is no more than seven years old
i reach for her hand
from her hair she removes a scroll
and whispers in my ear
i, too, am made of
one thousand pieces