mtoto

you, mtoto touch my arm

wondering about the hair

that grows straight and soft

over skin

that despite equatorial sun

is still white

pink really

because blood runs below

and in places blue

where veins and weakness show through

in this way you remind me

it's hard to forget my skin

the friends i’ve made here

can pick me out

wandering purposefully

in these walking streetside crowds

from a kilometer away

you, mtoto ask me about flying

as if i had the magic of wings

but it’s not magic it’s money

its magic of brutal history

and i trip over words

tracing circles backwards

bumpily landing

on air stripped of theories

the currency of my thought

standing flapping

ragged from flight

you, mtoto keep looking

from where you lay in the grass

or run on the dusty shoulder

miguu mifupi inakimbia

push your circle toy with the stick

or from where you tend your little goats

raise your eyebrows together with chin

saying yes

saying hey

saying we know

or whatever it is you are saying

that i don’t yet know

you, mtoto keep looking

at me

my white skin

and soft straight hair

turning grey

keep singing your

howareyous

for bob and biscuits, viatu

for joy or horror of the passing ghost

keep smiling and laughing

staring

as i stutter in solidarity’s language

i am trying

me, mtoto, najaribu