The Tree in my Yard by Adelina C. Da Silva

Climbing to the Acacia tree’s highest branch

I look downtown, Bila Baxu.

The ceramic roof tiles with the sun and the wind

wave from the spikes to the rooftops.

I want to stretch the view and my imagination

takes me far away, and I am free.

The taste of maresia; the tangy smell of the sea,

the cumulus clouds roll in and out of the sun, and

looking up and around, the whole city is mine.

What hides behind the horizon? Who lives

beyond the sea? And if I jump over the rainbow

what awaits me? I ask.

On the stronger branch, I hold on tight, and dream

I could fly across the ocean to the Island of Brava

and in its garden smell the sweet scent of its flowers.

I awake to my mother's warning: Cudadu pa bu ca cai!

and start climbing down to sit and play with the yellow

seed pods under the shadow of wide leaf stalks.

A swift wind brings the smell of pexe fritu, and I run inside

for lunch keeping my dreams close to heart.

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Adelina C. Da Silva was born in Fogo, Cabo Verde Islands and immigrated to the United States in 1976. She was an English as a Second Language teacher in Boston, Massachusetts for 36 years and recently retired. Adelina writes in Cabo Verdean Creole, Portuguese and English.