Lady of Smiles

a lady I met
never to forget
her name was Huguette

in a place called Bangui
she did everything for me
smiling radiantly

the most human moments of my day
were meeting her along the way
even if there was nothing much to say

not a friend, not a lover
but accomplices we were
in the negotiation of everyday life

this was before the war
that raped and killed
and tore at the core

of Africa’s most central site
ushering in a night
that has still not surrendered to light

2016

Click here to read in Spanish