top of page
Root Work Journal - Convening in the Ark - Volume 1, Issue 1

Diaspora (para Itana) 

W. Yusef Doucet

Joko Collective

doucetyu@sbcglobal.net 

​

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47106/4rwj.11107563 

​

​

​

______

​

We all belong to each other.

 

 

Diaspora (para Itana) 

 

Thousands more miles separated a little black girl

At play with red chickens in her grandma’s yard

In Salvador, Bahia and the black boy throwing a baseball

Against the red brick wall in his Los Angeles backyard.

 

Why should distance matter? 

Why should language matter?

“When you speak, I know you in my spirit,

In my spirit right here.” 

 

She speaks with her hand over heart.

Why should distance matter?

Why should language matter?

“I’m so glad,” he says. “I’ve known you 

 

My whole life, in my heart right here.

I could hear you giggle when the baseball 

Bounced back and your delight

Would scatter the chickens.”

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Anchor 1
bottom of page