Often times I combine my love of poetry with my love of dance. I wrote this poem for my African Dance instructor and friend, Melanie Kelly, a few Christmases ago.
Doundounba
by Shawn R. Jones
for Melanie Kelly
Unbind blood of new creations
Let your body go.
Beat drums of liberation.
Feed the overflow
of rhythms under condemnation-
movements they call sin.
Swagger hips in your frustration.
Let you body win.
Jerk your neck out of oppression
till each braid whips loose.
Wipe sweat from pent up affections.
Feel tensions reduce.
Swing your arms in opposition
to everything you know.
Batter bones of your temptation.
Bang your body low.
Melanie, thank you so much! I miss you!