Читать книгу Song for Night - Chris Abani - Страница 6

Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Silence Is a Steady Hand, Palm Flat

Night Is a Palm Pulled Down over the Eyes

Death Is Two Fingers Sliding across the Throat

Memory Is a Pattern Cut into an Arm

Imagination Is a Forefinger between the Eyes

Dawn Is Two Hands Parting before the Face

A Funnel Is Fingertips Steepled, Palms Apart

Danger Is a Deeper Silence

Love Is a Backhanded Stroke to the Cheek

Listening Is a Hand Cupping an Ear like a Seashell

Fish Is a Hand Swimming through the Air

The Soul Has No Sign

Ghosts Are a Gentle Breath over Moving Fingers

Truth Is Forefinger to Tongue Raised Skyward

Mercy Is a Palm Turning Out from the Heart

Dreaming Is Hands Held in Prayer over the Nose

Town Is Hands Making Boxes in the Air

A Thumb in the Air, Clicking an Imaginary Lighter

Child’s Play

A Hand Held like a Pistol

River Is a Flat Snake

Shelter Is Hands Protecting the Head

Music Is Any Dance You Can Pull Off

Roll Call Is Fingers Counting off a Palm

Fingers Pinching a Nose Is a Bad Smell

Dirty Is a Scrunched-up Face and a Palm Waving

Cowardice Is Spitting Once

A Question Is a Palm Turning Out from an Ear

Vision Is the Same As Dreaming

A Train Is Forearms Back and Forth Like Pistons

Light Is Jazz Hands and a Smile

Mother Is Crossed Arms Rocking a Baby

Rest Is a Chin Held in a Palm

Fear Is an Open Hand Beating over the Heart

Will Is an Emphatic Finger Pointing

Home Is a Palm Fisted to the Heart

Acknowledgments