Fifty years since I first heard mbira
accompanied by the gourd rattle
called hosho
and women's high-voiced singing
songs from Africa
gift of the Shona people
of Zimbabwe
which from first hearing
entered deep and drew me
to find teachers
learn to play myself
the tunes the Shona play
to draw their ancestors
into their homes for healing
for dance and celebration
so this music
heals my soul as well
though I've not called
on distant ancestors
I know we have them
all of us
Anglo and Inuit
Lakota and Chinese
we all came from
that birthplace of humanity
called Africa
perhaps that's why
this music touches me
so deeply
brings a quiet joy
as if I were
a baby lying half asleep
across his mother's breast