Mother’s Earth’s Cries by Ameena Rafeek

Mother Earth’s Cries

by Ameena Rafeek

As the water flows, Mother Earth cries for her land. Never-ending flow.

The greenery blows, As Mother Earth sways and shakes. Pools of tears below.

In comes the sunlight, Peeking in through the mountains. A new light, a glow.

Mother Earth’s teardrops, They grow and nourish the Earth. And her cries echo.

Visit www.africanvoices.com to see Ameena Rafeek’s “What Happened to the Larsons?”

TRIBUTES

6 In Passing: Cliff Frazier 9 Her Stories Bios

POETRY

4 Mother’s Earth’s Cries by Ameena Rafeek 13 Mother Mythic by Gloria J. Browne-Marshall

15 Changes by Nadia Bongo 16 Untitled by Sakari Happonen Tulliportinkatu 20 April 3, 1968 by Lora René Tucker 26 When I am Sad I Crumple by Lolita Stewart-White 34 Duende for Garcia Lorca and Miles Davis

FICTION

11 Storm Warning by Katheryn Prather

12 The Dreams of a Dancer by Aberjhani 14 Good Hair by Aponi Kafele 17 Bathala: a Biomythography pt. 1 by Scott Ortega-Nanos 27 Woman of Steel by Lucy Mwelu

BOOK REVIEWS

30 A Bodega of Words: An Organization Feeding the Minds of New York City Families by Debbie A. Officer

32 Duende: Poems, 1966-Now by Quincy Troupes by Ella Nathanael Alkiewicz

IN THIS ISSUE

8 Contributors’ Bios

22 Sage Gallon: A Self-Taught Artist Lights Up Our World

CONTENTS

African Voices print editions can be purchased at the following locations:

MANHATTAN Studio Museum in Harlem 144 W. 125 St. New York, NY 10027 MANHATTAN Sisters Uptown Bookstore 1942 Amsterdam Ave. New York, NY 10032 BROOKLYN African Voices 325 Lafayette Ave., C.F. Suite Brooklyn, NY 11238

If you would like to sell African Voices magazine, please call us at 212-865-2982 or e-mail africanvoicesart@gmail.com.