Saturday, 30 May 2015

Be Mankan

I journey to Mali
this evening
on the opening plucks
of Toumani Diabate's kora
with the long-set sun
still brushing the sky

I loiter in Bamako
on streets made purely
of song
with people along them
like smiling notes
sounding as they're seen

With Toumani and now
Ali Farka Touré
who tells me that death's alright
just leave something behind
something good
like music, like this song
anything... 

'Be Mankan'
“It's the blessings that make the tears fall”

As it plays out
Toumani grins and ambles off
kora in tow

Ali fades with a master's chuckle
and a humble wave
into an eve of silence

The tears fall 




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