Bossa Nova: Um Tributo

 By: Quina Parchment

sample song —> Mas Que Nada by Sérgio Mendes

I love to walk
down your streets
stepping
half-steps
bouncing feet

fluttering
underneath
a pale
yellow skirt
swimming
through your
humid air
breeze
as
golden-brown streaks
of your rays
reflect off
my salt-crusted curls
slick for the moment
by the
glassy-blue water
from which

I rise
to find
more light
reflected
on sundry shades of brown
and cor creme
skin
surfing
and
dancing
capoeira
and
playing
voleibol
futebol
and
the tamborim
guitarra with no pick
piano
trumpets
and the sound
of slightly rusted swing sets
swaying with
the singers
who call for our response
in their smooth
cocada-liquid language
my favorite
português língua
while

we clap
in rhythm
to
Sèrgio’s hits
from ‘66
samba and jazz
mix
until sun sets
on Rio de Janeiro
and we
feel you
transform
as you have
many times before
into a new form
as a
timeless new trend
time and time again
I love 
to visit
you,
Bossa Nova,
here in my
sun-lit
room.