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THE RITUAL THING 

Just before sunrise and the alarm clock goes off 
She awakens 
Thinking about what she has to do and 
what she has yet to accomplish 
Rising to wash her face, wrapped in a robe 
to prepare breakfast for a sleeping family 
Knowing they will arise to the smell of 
their daily bread, 
As she turns her face to the morning sun 
before uttering a word to anyone 
She prays. 
Mafete fun Olofi, Mafete fun Orisha 
Modupe, Modupe, Modupe 
Oh God, thank you for another day. 

They come to the table one by one 
some still asleep but walking, 
some wide awake and talking 
She kisses each on the forehead 
making sure everyone has what is needed, 
feeds the dog and then she leaves 
to prepare herself for the day ahead 

As she runs the water in the shower 
and sips from her morning coffee 
she lays out what to wear. 
Slipping into the cool waters, 
for a one on one conversation 
For God hears the prayers 
of a cleaning meditation, 
once again, 
She prays. 

God bless my family 
as they walk through life today 
Give them strength to face 
whatever comes their way 
Give them wisdom to take the best road 
and not falter in their decision 
And keep me strong to face the day. 

As she prepares to leave, 
she checks the kitchen. 
The dishes are washed and put away. 
She grabs for her keys 
and a glass of water 
and before anyone leaves 
she does the ritual thing. 
She sprinkles water across 
the threshold of the door and 
She prays. 

Omi tutu, ona tutu, ile tutu 
Tutu laroye, tutu elegba, tutu egun, uh. 
Bless this water 
Bless this house 
Bless those who pass through this door 
Bring them safely where they must go 
So they may safely return 
Let our ancestors be with us and 
See what we cannot see 
And safely guide our paths so that 
The roads are open and clear 
To return us home again. 

And with that, another day begins 
For she has done, the ritual thing. 
  

Nyra Pierce © nyra@africana.com

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CHILE, I'M TIRED 

Chile, I'm so tired. 
All I want to do is sleep. 
But sleep is the hardest thing to do. 
You see, every time I lay this ole head down 
HERE THEY COME. 
The old ones, you know, the elders, the ones who came before 
Chile, the Ancestors. 

Every time I close these eyes, all I see. 
The beautiful robes in those bright colors. 
Robes dancing in the wind. 
With staffs held strong and long 
And heads held high. 
Them Ancestors, the ancient ones. 
Chile they sure are some beautiful people. 
BUT LORD KNOWS THEY MAKE ME TIRED. 

The journeys they take me on are long and sometimes hard. 
The future takes a while to get to and the past is sometimes 
hard to bear. 
But they always say, 
"YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHERE YOU COME FROM 
TO KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING. 
THE WRONGS OF THE PAST MUST BE REMEMBERED 
SO THAT IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN."
Oh, they’re full of knowledge and always obliged to pass it on, 
which I certainly don't mind. 

But, I welcome one good night's sleep. 
Maybe I'll ask them to sit by the water a while 
So we can hear the heart beat of the drums on the waves. 
And make sure I say SIT.  Cause last time they took 
me to the ocean, they kept right on walking. 
Clean across the water, all the way home 
So I could see from whence they came. 

Chile, I'm so tired. 
All I want to do is rest. 
But they say sleep will come, when I'm done, 
But now I must do ‘til I'm threw. 
So until then, I'll be takin' an afternoon nap. 
  

Nyra Pierce © nyra@africana.com

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REAFFIRMATION OF LOVE 

As I lie here thinking of you 
My heart beats to the sound 
Of a different drum 
Only to realize 
It is our two hearts beating as one 

When we are apart 
I reach deep inside my soul 
Trying to feel what it would be like 
To be without you 
Not having you in my life 

I start to hyperventilate 
My lungs feel as though the air has left 
My eyes form tears which could only 
Be compared to a river's stream 
A waterfall that you can't turn off 

We are so close, we are as one 
When we met, we became good friends 
We laughed together which made us bond 
We trust each other which makes us best friends 
So being lovers seals the relationship 
And being IN LOVE makes it solid 
Like the foundation of rock our love is built on 

No one understands us 
The way we understand each other 
No one understands the lengths 
We go to for each other 
No one understands the depth of our love 
Except the ALMIGHTY 
And that's just fine, just fine with us 
  

Nyra Pierce © nyra@africana.com

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THE DANCE 

As I walked into the room I noticed you there 
I nodded my head in acknowledgement of your presence 
I avoided your glances purposely, ignoring all the signs 
I had no wish to see what your eyes screamed out 

I knew from stolen looks that your eyes spoke your heart 
YOU MUST BE MINE, YOU WILL BE MINE 
But for 15 years, I belonged to another 
And refused your invitations, for I was not to be shared. 

I am faithful to only one, though not wanting to be there 
I am not free to love another 
So I declined the dance of lovers 
That our eyes wanted share 

I felt your desire caressing my thighs, as I sat crossed-legs on the floor 
My very being was aware of your presence 
As we shared a Kodak moment 
Of which there can be no more 

So once again before I left our eyes met and spoke 
To each other what our mouths could not utter 
What must never be spoken and no one will hear 
Of untapped passions to make the room shutter 

As I rose to leave with one more glance, we decide to dance again 
A dance without contact 
Of untrusted feelings 
A dance of lovers not able to touch 

But we know in our hearts that our time will come 
And when it does, will we both be enthralled 
Or will anticipation prove to be the greatest expectation 
And the dance a disappointment after all. 

I wonder.


Nyra Pierce © nyra@africana.com

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THE VICTIM ZONE
(For Sisters In Trouble) 

Girl, who told you, you couldn't leave
What fool made you believe
That you had no self-esteem
And you couldn't fulfill your dreams

That joker is not ALL THAT
And the games he plays are whack
Can't you recognize the deceit
Don't you realize he's a cheat

Trying to rob you of your glory
Trying to keep you from telling your story
Don't buy into none of his hype
Get your mind right and make your game tight

Folks have died trying to break all those chains
Now you're flirting with slavery again
Don't repeat what others went through
Don't you know that they suffered for you

Break the cycle and be on your way
Live to tell all another day
Pack your stuff and run for the door
Or leave it all, you can always get more

Your sanity and life are at stake
On yourself you must concentrate
Stop thinking that it's your fault
Take control, bring this madness to a halt

You have something to do with your life
Take a rest, then assess, then get right
Cause when you realize what is true
No one loves YOU more than YOU


Nyra Pierce © nyra@africana.com