African Poem by Augustinho Neto

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There on the horizon

the fire

and the dark silhouettes of the imbondeiro trees

with their arms raised

in the air the green smell of burnt palm trees

On the road

the line of Bailundo porters

groaning under their loads of crueira*

in the room

the sweet sweet-eyed mulatress

retouching her face with rouge and rice-powder

the woman under her many clothes moving her hips

on the bed

the sleepless man thinking

of buying knives and forks to eat with at a table

On the sky the reflections

of the fire

and the silhouette of the blacks at the drums

with their arms raised

in the air the warm tune of marimbas

On the road the porters

in the room the mulatress

on the bed the sleepless man

The burning coals consuming

consuming with fire

the warm country of the horizons.