Elmina Blues (Pidgin Drum Song) Poem by Carl Hancock Rux

dey took away
dey took away the drum
dey took away
dey took away the drum so ah use my hands
yeh
so ah use myself
yeh
to sing ov da rivah
an da blood
to get across ah use myself
yeh
ah use myself….
ugene ugene*
ugene ugene
wit my chest ah sing
yeh
wit my chest ah sing
yeh
ov da flesh torn open
ov da wall an da gate
ov da hate
dat took away my land
dat took away da man
from da shore
took away da drum
took away da drum
yeh
ah use myself
Abia
dey took away
dey took away
da drum
so ah use my feet
so ah use my dance
to step into da heavens
an walk away
to bring down da God
ah know
He kiss me
wit His music
an set fire to mah heels
He bid me dance to
da rhythm
A new song
yeh
A new wail
yeh
Ah sail across da ocean
an resurrect da bones
dey rest alone at da bottom
ov da sea
Ekwee
an dis prayer is to
da God ah know
to da drum
ov myself
yeh
to da drum
ov myself
Abia