Kurtis Lamkin is a poet who plays the Kora, a beautiful West African instrument. He has performed at the Apollo Theater, Lincoln Center, Town Hall Theater on Broadway, the Dodge Poetry Festival, Spoleto, and many other venues around the US. His latest recording, “Love Life,” is available at kurtislamkin.com.
Also available on Apple Music, Spotify, Soundcloud, Amazon, and in iTunes.
Shoulder my son over dead stalks
feel him up there rocking
a captain taller than we'll ever be alone.
He trips corn rows like a one-man kindergarten
scattering south toward woods senile in far haze
yelping like a harmonica in search of a boot dance.
If I could teach him I would tell him
men are longitude, women latitude
and wherever you stand is the top of the world.
What else can you tell a boy who likes
flying, sparrows, tumbling and being amazed?
You know he's not a herd of palominos
but he thinks he's free.
Quilts, Catherine Lamkin, Kebe`, Kurtis, Kora
