Out of Africa
black as my Frisco jeans
my ancestors headed north
then west east north again
in both directions toward
the unknown continent
20 to 60 thousand years ago
In hunger they followed
the beasts of forest and plains
as the heavy rains bleached
their hides and the desert
winds slanted their eyes
some became the color
of the blowing yellow sands
I am of east and west
and my unknown progeny
of variable shades of color
shall undoubtedly sojourn
onward and outward
to satisfy that inward
restlessness to understand
and to know the unknown
that lies just beyond the known
