2001 @ Bumbershoot listening to Antebellus Afrobeat

Arms relax to my side
– From close to chest –
And swing easy-slow
Rhythmic to the music
Shoulders breasts
ribs waist
Twist bounce rotate
Counter-beat, counter-clock
…..Wise

Leg one, leg two
Thigh calf
Ankle foot
Toe heel
Lift bend
stomp
Gently grind
Crushed Grass
Beneath

Angry thoughts
Rising anxiety
soothed
Calmed
The beat beat
Beat beat

Of the percussion-man’s
hands
On the taught-hide
Hides

The beat beat
Beat beat

Of my beating heart
“trust the universe” she said
– not for the first time –

your universe
your unity identity
thought within eternity

arms swing side to side
hips take turns
taking stage
legs rock
thigh calf, calf thigh
heel toe, toe heel
grind grass
underneath
beat beat
beat beat

let it go
let it go
angry thoughts
anxiety rising

“trust the universe” she says
trust the universe