el dia del cajón (3)

el dia del cajón

for kiki sanchez & the afro-peruvian project

the despairing african, spurned
by his gods, angolan, antillean or
otherwise, who pined away until
only the sound of his coughing
death remained to ride the currents
of time --a sound which lapped
& soaked the trunks of ancient

trees like a mighty swollen river;

became embedded in the resonant

woods which thru’ some efficient

cause became spanish shipping crates

or small dresser drawers awaiting
the passion-pounding of magical
hands to free them from their

utilitarian disguises; to become the

box-like cajón, whose dark rhythms,

the festejo, lando, socabon, pregon,
zamacueca, & alcatraz, seduced,
then caressed the whimsical charango,
mandolin-made from the tortoise or
armadillo shell & together invoked
the mermaids.

©Joseph McNair;2009