lost and found
i learned the sorrowful craft of love
when i was exiled from you
i sought you in vain for so long
traveling with your name
a crumpled paper in my hand
unfolding a map of your land
asking no directions
following the wind
ghosts do you believe in ghosts
do you believe how hope can rip
a soul apart
although it’s worked miracles before
something in the wind sent me here
to your scent and i knew
i recognized you
no one else has such rivers in their land
making words grow and hearts beat so
clandestine
i crossed
like a prayer crossed
the unforgivable distance of desire
feeling my way in the darkest night
breathless and wet
until i reached your shores
and blessedly
repeatedly i kiss the place where i landed
pausing at the line of your heart
rediscovering you
my new/old love
my lost and found
oh my land
i know your body deeply
i have prospected every inch of you
traced each contour with my finger
listened to each and every bloodbeat
following the path of your veins
i know the taste and smell of you
the bushes in your garden
your salt marshes
your mountains, your valleys
the sunlight on your bare trees
and i know
i know there is a place for me
in you
michele voltaire marcelin
Photograph Paul Cava: www.paulcavaart.com
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Michèle Voltaire Marcelin is a poet/writer, performer and painter who was born and raised in Haiti, sojourned in Chile, and currently lives in the United States. The publication of her first novel “La Désenchantée” (CIDIHCA, Montréal-2006) was followed by its Spanish translation “La Desencantada” and two other books of poetry and prose: “Lost and Found” and “Amours et Bagatelles” (CIDIHCA, Montréal-2009) - translated into Spanish by Editorial ALBA as "Amores y cosas sin importancia" - all of which garnered rave reviews. Her writings are also featured in 3 anthologies published in France: "Cahier Haiti" (published by RAL'M-2009), "Terre de Femmes" (Editions Bruno Doucey-2011) "Revue Intranqu'îllités" (2012). She speaks and writes fluently French, English, Spanish and Haitian Creole. She has a BFA from the Leonard Davis Center for the Performing Arts at CUNY and a Masters from The New School for Social Research.
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