Deborah Guzzi

The paint recalled, layered and petulant, groaned
mindless in its ground, decomposed granules
of hematite, pale traceries of gypsum,
the crevasses of cave wall, soot soothed.
Layered and petulant the palm of man appears
charcoal dusted, amongst the antelope and bison.

Do you hear the drum´s call, the hollow wail
of bone flute, the slap of bare feet,
and the drone of chant?

Red-lead or orange crystalline roared atop
the gummy white in Pharaoh’s tombs.
See the deathly desert and the blood of power
as it paved the way; ochre, gypsum,
copper blue, groaned mindless in its ground.

Do you hear the drums call, the hollow wail
of wooden flutes, the rattle of the tambourine
the clink of bell, as bare feet dance
as if entranced?

Decomposed, composed, each grain called
to mind pale traceries of the ages left behind.
Soot-soothed, charred coal outlined the faces
of God and man upon the walls of time.