(with Liz Lerman Dance Studio – Still Crossing Project – 6-3-2006)
I come from – dried
chilies and dust.
I come from stupas gilded
with real gold.
I come from – people shot
in the street.
I come from – child soldiers.
I come from – rape as a
weapon of war.
I come from – nothing but fish paste
and broken rice to eat.
I come from crows and sparrows
shot and netted for food.
I come from dengue haemorrhagic fever
I come from all my friends and
relatives – dead.
All my students – disappeared.
My professors – lost.
I come from – everything – state owned.
I come from – soldiers – everywhere.
I come from human mine sweepers.
I come from – no more – universities.
I come from dengue haemorrhagic fever.
I come from elephantiasis.
I come from – money not worth
the paper – it’s printed on.
I come from her six foot son
come home in a five foot coffin.
I come from – hello goodbye.
Arnahdé1 – or feeling bad to say – No.
But in life it is necessary
To say – No – often.
1 pronounced – Arr Nar Dé (Ah Nar Dair – as in "air.")