The Samal Connection Poem by RIC BASTASA

this is the second
time
compare me to the
black bird
that comes to your
island
and bring you nothing
but you are
all excited
to see what kind
of black feathers
do my wings
have

it's been a year
and then
another to recall

because we are
distant
we see all the good
that our
minds are
indulging with
all anticipation

the moment however
when the chickens were
released from
their coops
the misunderstanding
began

back home
how can you all be
strangers

same faces i bring
here
same faces i leave
there

and there is no
difference to
scale

at any rate i
thank all of you
for giving
birth to
all of us.