RELEASE

WE WILL TAKE ALL YOU HAVE GIVEN

WE WILL TAKE ALL YOU HAVE TAUGHT

WE WILL POUR AND BOIL AND STIR IT

IN OUR OWN SORCERER’S POT.

WE WILL MOLD AND SHAPE AND FORM IT

WE WILL GIVE IT ENERGY

WE’LL RELEASE OUR PENT-UP VOICES

WE WILL SET OUR STORIES FREE.

WE HAVE CRIED TEN THOUSAND RIVERS,

WE HAVE COWERED, DEEP IN FEAR,

BUT THERE WILL COME A BRIGHTER DAWN

WHEN WE WON’T SHED A TEAR.

SOME OF US WERE ENSNARED IN LIES,

SOME SACRIFICED OUR LIVES,

SOME OF US SOUGHT SURVIVAL

IN SEAS OF ENDLESS STRIFE.

SOME BEATEN AND DOWNTRODDEN,

DEVALUED AND DEFACED,

SOME MONUMENTS TO VILE ABUSE,

AND STATUETTES OF HATE,

NOW STAND HERE, SCARRED YET LIVING.

NOW STAND IN ALL OUR GLORY.

WE, WHO FLED BATTLEGROUNDS ALIVE,

DESERVE TO TELL OUR STORY.

I, FOR ONE, WILL NOT BOW DOWN.

I WILL NOT SIT AND WAIT.

I’LL SOAR, AFLIGHT ON MENDED WINGS,

AND I’LL FULFIL MY FATE.

Photo by Hannah Troupe on Unsplash