Bissap (Red Drink, Hibiscus, Sobolo, Sorrel)/A Visitation of Souls
by REGINA YC GARCIA
in Spring 2026
Neville Barbour II, “St. George the Dragon,” 2024
Bissap (Red Drink, Hibiscus, Sobolo, Sorrel)
“Red drinks have long lubricated the social gatherings of West Africans and people of African heritage in the Americas, particularly those celebrating emancipation…” – Adrian Miller
and she thought…
it isn't meant for those hands and hearts
of this grace-land to be lost, to be scattered,
to be captured and spattered across inglorious
terrain, having once rooted and grown widely
oft living abundantly and freely across the most
ancient holy ground
and Bissap
saw them snatched,
and she cried, chanted, and prayed that
they would remember her flowering and offering
they would not be completely overtaken by their sorrowing
they would retain the memory of her blood edifying elixir
that celebrated the cherished moments in their humanity, and
Bissap
once extending hospitality
once encouraging bonds of unity
once toasting victories
now witnessed her cultivators huddled
chained in coffers
trafficked across an angry sea
and what are they to do when their royal skins from noble lands
are White-washed Black with souls hung Blue?
Yet, as if from earth to wave, dodging death and graves
Bissap
whispered code through seas, ground, and air
made herself known as more than root and leaves
she was a blood-red reminder that carried history and ways
Liberty
and those hands and hearts of grace recognized
even through bleary eyes and hot terrain
that the sacred “red drink” of the loving cup still remained
an innocuous reappearing, same face, different name
reflecting hope
calling home
A Visitation of Souls
In the depths of any human soul
is a yearning to be free
as it bumps around in skin
climbs the cage of bones
navigates the network of nerves
peeps through opened eyes
bends outward the ear
announces through loose lips
its need for connection
its desire to create memory
to move this torment of flesh
towards a reasonable proximity
towards hope
I have sought my grandmother's table
filled with love enough to feed my soul
feasted on her wit and warning as I wrapped
small hands around rolls warm from the
oven, baked just for me; she was solid
resolve, a star lit with love
Now lifted higher
My own soul still encased
My own soul still seeking hers
Regina YC Garcia is an award winning poet, language artist, and professor from Greenville, NC. Her published work appears in NCLR, Fiyah Black Speculative Lit, Soflopojo, Amistad, Elevation Review, Charlotte Lit and others. Her first chapbook, The Firetalker's Daughter published by Finishing Line Press was released in March 2023, and her full-length book, Whispers from the Multiverse, published by Aquarius Press/ Willow Books, was released in February 2025.
