Middle of the Night Muse

When I was younger, I woke up from dreams (and sometimes nightmares) often.  I would pull out a piece of paper, a napkin, anything I could write on and jot down notes to use in my writing later.  I don't know when or why I quit doing this.  About a year ago, I was startled awake from a dream about my kiddos in Africa, and the notes turned into this the next day:

I AM AFRICA.

               I AM YEARNING.  I AM DUSTY BARE FEET 

        AND CALLUSED HANDS, YELLOW EYES AND PINK 

    SMILING LIPS. I AM THE PROMISE OF A RAINBOW IN THE 

  MARKET FABRICS, THE NOURISHMENT OF YAMS, MANGOES, 

AND FISH.  I AM THE MISSING ARMS OF WAR AND THE HALF-

DEAD LEGS OF DISEASE.  I AM DRIPPING SWEAT ON MUSCLED 

SHOULDERS, STRENGTH TO CARRY THE WEIGHT OF LIFE.  I AM 

GAP-TOOTHED, BIG-BELLIED LAUGHTER.  I AM THE CRY OF THE 

ORPHAN, THE DREAM OF THE WIDOW.  I AM DRUMS AND 

CLAPPING, DANCING AND SINGING.  I AM REJOICING IN THE MIDST 

OF SORROW.  I AM HUMBLE FATHERS, PRAYING MOTHERS, JOYFUL 

SONS, AND RISEN DAUGHTERS.  I AM SUNSET COMMUNION WITH 

  SUNRISE WORSHIP.  I AM BROKEN LIMBS, BROKEN BODY, POURED 

         OUT  FOR MY PEOPLE.    I AM SWEAT, BEADING ON THE

                           FISHERMAN’S SUN-TANNED SKIN.  I AM

                            THE ACHE IN THE SEAMSTRESS’ FINGERS, 

                             THE PAIN IN THE CARPENTER’S JOINTS.  

                            I AM LAST YEAR’S TEARS, THIS MORNING’S 

                            SONG, AND TOMORROW’S MYSTERY.  I AM 

                                ARMS STRETCHED OUT, HEART OPEN,

                               EMBRACING CHANGE TO COME. I AM 

                                THE BREATH OF LIFE IN THE FACE 

                                  OF DEATH, DAYLIGHT ON THE 

                                 OCEAN’S HORIZON.  I AM QUIET 

                                   PASSION.  I AM BOLD BEAUTY.  

I AM RENEWED STRENGTH. 

  I AM A NEW GENERATION 

 OF PEACE.  I AM THE SPIRIT 

 AND HEART OF GOD.  I AM 

    A CONQUERING LOVE, 

         LIVED OUT LOUD.

            I AM AFRICA.

       I AM.