Today We Rise

They think they can hold us afraid and down,
Chained in a cave of dark shadows brown.
Instead we must come out to see the light
Waiting to embrace us in love and might.
They think we can forget our callous suppression
The hangman tightening the noose before false confessions.
Instead we remember those disappeared in haste
Even the last breath exhaled in unknown waste.
They think they can lead us as passive, meek herds
Instead we resist cowering, and lionize as free birds.
They think they can color us copper brazen
With mischievous, blind strokes of devious abrasions.
Instead we gleam through in golden hues and rays
An artist’s pure imagination to peruse and marveled gaze.
They think they can speak for us in hollow cacophony,
Instead we resound our own narratives of symphony.
They think they can concoct and spread a liar’s tale
Instead we weave truth with threads of courage to prevail.
They think they can tear the pages of our warrior souls
Instead we heal and soothe our hearts heavy with grievous tolls.
They think they can condemn us, beat us, hush us,
Hurt us with smears, and even cruelly crush us.
Instead we gather all differences together
To speak, to be heard, and seen in fair measure.
Abandoning fear and darkness we simply march on
The righteous path, yes, today we resist and rise on,
To claim our rightful share and to live and adorn
A haven of strength for all born and yet to be born.