Poems by Reuel Lewi

Michael Lam, “Seaward Bowline (Kingston, Georgetown, Guyana),” 2014. Image courtesy of the artist.

As published on Small Axe

Omen

On Good Friday morning
grandfather Joe scurried to his front steps
fetched the sky pure rain water in his glass
set overnight to collect drizzling rain

To inquisitive delight of neighbors
he burst an egg, let its white ooze out
slowly into glass which he placed on the vat
under the morning sun

Twelve noon, time precise
everyone gathered to watch their future
unfold as shapes in motion

Ms. Pansy saw a ship and offered
a chanty:

Swing low, sweet chariot
coming forth to carry me home

Swing low, sweet chariot
coming forth to carry me home

Read two more Lewi’s poems over at Small Axe.