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Thursday, January 16, 2020

da Gama

This is not the man  
butchered for a stew
sent to his enemies
or the man found dead
in the starfish shipwreck 
left behind the monsoon 

or the captive burnt in the cabin
or the one whose tongue
and lips were julienned
dog ears tied to his head
while brute guards stared
drinking the gore of Christ
from a golden goblet
with a long proud beard.
 
No, this is the man  \
who did all of that  to you. 

He was born on an evolving caravel
smoking arquebus the Holy Spirit 
to conquer time like normal men  
cannot really do 
unless they know the man 
and take his place. 

He enters your kingdom on a carpet of entrails 
intimidates the maids 
and gives you gold you must resist. 

You won't resist. The green forest. The silver mountains 
The raj's sunset
on the land he found with the power that you dream 
and the taste of cardamom. 

You forgive his destiny. 
He dies dramatically
on Christmas Eve.

He lies in a church in a golden tomb 
you commissioned with mastery. 
b.

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