SECOND SKIN

The pagne, humble and eloquent fabric of cotton or wax,
is far more than clothing—it is a second skin.
A worn memory, a silent language,
an inheritance stitched into every fiber.

It follows a woman from childhood, tied at her waist,
embraces her in a mother’s tenderness.
It celebrates births, accompanies unions, mourns losses.

Each fold is a verse,
each pattern whispers a message—
love, pride, sorrow, hope.
Every pagne is a poem.

Chosen with mood, with season, with ceremony,
it is the voice of the quiet,
the elegance of the dignified.

Tied at the waist, a dancing skirt.
Draped over the shoulder, a modest coat.
Wrapped around the head, it becomes a crown.
Cradle, veil, offering, remembrance.

Its colors sing: red for passion,
blue for peace, green for fertility.
At once simple and sacred,
resilient, flowing, free.

A thread between skin and soul,
between yesterday and tomorrow.

As long as you are worn,
the story lives on.