This is a brief collection of emails exchanged in the years following our return to the US from Africa. Much of their meaning is likely lost to those outside their certain situation. . .their authors came together at a boarding school in Africa, and there dreamed of one day coming "home", but when they got here they lost something they did not understand. So they wrote; to recapture what was lost or to move on to something new no one was altogether sure.

Jan. 2001

Subj:  long is the text
Date: Wednesday, January 2001  (01:21:38)
From: big cheif bromden

dear death.

unto the breathes that comewith the passing of the day
didn't go to school.for i was expelled.
didn't go to college.for i already failed.
didn't get a job
for i was already sold.

my life is a battle against the institutions
that at the expense of my innocence demand their restitution
the families my sins make suffer
i hope to bring some resolution
so dear death.
i would ask for an hour more.
i would ask someone to see things through my prison door.
and have mercy on me.

but gone is existence with all it's surplus energy
gone is the essence of my minds tranquility
gone is the semblance of sympathy

into the darkness
into the place of black holes
where are imprisoned all the used up souls

so cancel my subscription
life has no more edens, i demand an eviction

.........................................................
and now the opposite
..........................................................

inspired by the powers of the oceans
together
with arms wide open
we walk into the dusk of an unadorned goodnight.
quench our thirst with each others tears
and into the endless light of a beautiful forest
full of glowing leaves we take flight

swiftly and smoothly we are caught in the arms of a windless breeze
that shimmers across the chords and makes us believe
for a second
for the minutest moment
there are no demented torments
and no anchors keep us grounded
and closer than ever before we sit
with eyes closed yet a million images of magical creation

i am ungiven
i am forgiven
i am an instrument
of your heaven

across a silent sea
slides the silver light
as waves decease,
and all tir tiny pieces
flutter across our blue brilliant light

you are perfect
a miracle of grace
nothing outshines your face
your are an everyone
to this desperate man, a martyr of hs own conflict
you are the sun
to this thirsting derelict

descending we entwine
once again
blood turns to wine
this union will never end

i am given
i am unforgiven
i can see when you hold me
into the holiness of heaven.

walking there
there are no enclaves
to be ensnared by dispair.
there is only our touch
only this is true
all the universe was but a slave
at the feet of you.
inside the place where i cannot return
sits a fire which parts of my old self help burn
it shines and reflects the image of you.
it is the light of the vast oceans that turns to fire
it is the waters that burn