Ankara Sundays

Yesterday she said her prayers and thank yous
Morning heat crowding her room and thighs
She could taste the salty fight begin
Before it even started
Yesterday the rains were heavy last night
Woke her to attention once or twice
But there’s water for bath or tea now
And she could smell the hunger of her sex and arms
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm
Ankara Sunday
Gonna put her lace on
Forget about things for a while
Ankara Sunday
Puttin' her best face on
Smile until the sun goes down
Yesterday she had okada wings on
Flying home in prayer and dust
Saw more sadness than she should have to
Listening for mercy along the bitter road
Yesterday’s night shadows were still hungry
But there’s no light to move the air
She could feel the sickness moving through her
And the mosquitoes resting on her bellow
Ankara Sunday
Gonna put her lace on
Forget about things for a while
Ankara Sunday
Puttin' her best face on
Smile until the sun goes down
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm
Ankara Sunday
Gonna put her lace on
Forget about things for a while
Ankara Sunday
Puttin' her best face on
Smile until the sun goes down
Ankara Sunday
Gonna put her lace on
Forget about things for a while
Ankara Sunday
Puttin' her best face on
Smile until the sun goes down
Hopefully she’ll sleep
While generators hum one thousand lullabies
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm
Hopefully she’ll dream
While city lights exhale one thousand sighs
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm
Ankara Sunday
Gonna put her lace on
Forget about things for a while
Ankara Sunday
Puttin' her best face on
Smile until the sun goes down