Remedy

I undress my mind
to remove my Ex's
agonizing words strung
firecracker beads
to my nerves
it's been a while
since it has made love
to drums
and tonight
after many white nights
of torment
it feels sensual
underneath a tropical
brew of drums
bass
piano
guitar
and the voices
of Boukman Eksperyans
which is slowly
streaming its way
into my ears
like pure honey
at the tip
of Erzulie's tongue.

I feel like a stallion
strong and able to dance
all day and night sweating
in the company of
Rara Machine with its
hurling bamboo
dropping melodies
like ripe mangoes
I taste paradise
with each drum beat
and if my tongue could
be an instrument
it would lick music
the way I eat
custard apples and sweet coconut.

Patrick Sylvain, a native of Haiti, lives in Somerville, Massachusetts.

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