blue tinged evening in Freetown, rolling down Murray Town road on back of a bike, we pass a welder's hut with people gathered around, orange sparks flying, the welder wearing cheap sunglasses for protection.

down by the river
(Yilewa, Sierra Leone)

you and me

there i was thinking i was breaking your heart

but i'd just been looking out the wrong window

all along

it was mine

that was shifting in its chair

getting ready

bracing itself for the tidal wave

i didn't see coming.

i felt the prickles on my neck,

but i swear i never saw it coming.

i swear.

text messages to myself

***

Flying up the hill to Fourah Bay College on a motorbike in that moment after sunset, blue grey city below, and water sheeny shiny out to the limits of the earth, leaning in close to the bike driver to keep from falling off the back, thoughts flying, spinning off into the blue, the road before us steep and wet and black and I feel like bursting, like this is where I live best.

***

7am the sun sits on a shelf of sky like a fluorescent orange over Freetown

***

Night smells along the open road, The lovely smooth freshness of dark skies swooping past, arm out the window, palm against the wind. Worry Free. The night speeds past and the world seems like it might survive us,. Like maybe, after all, it knows better.

***

sunset