As/Is







5.24.2004


Mont Chenoua

There, 15 000

dancing underground scarves
around heads waists veils

crumpled at their feet dancing
a little twisting thing articulated
wrists hips big from

childbirth they're dancing
to drums old calloused hands
on drums dancing to the old
music

kept
for themselves no men no
sex dancing waiting noticing
how stone

slaps
inward with each
blast from

outside.