1:
we’ve been here
In the space before the beginning
people seasoned by different suns
the complicated,
beautiful beginning
weaving sacred stories
stolen
stitching inside & outside the lines
page by page
note by note
we write/right life.
we lift
each other
up.
we shine bright
even in dark spaces
we are blinding
we are lightning
2:
we sang
before songs became beacons
voices resound
as if God herself were plucking sacred strings in our mouths
let us baptize you
sacred people
skin made holy
evidence of wonder
we shine bright
even in dark spaces
we are blinding
we are lightning
3:
sail across oceans of our tears
truth always floats
Let the waters baptize you
we become religion
shapeshifters of music
sorrowful melodies turn jubilant
we’ve earned this CASTLE
earned this CROWN
make music even in our silence
our joy melodic
unflinching
glorious
we FLY
we walk
we reach
for freedom
always.
we shine bright
even in dark spaces
we are blinding
we are lightning
©U-Meleni Mhlaba-Adebo 2021
This poem was turned into song : Shine by Allison Loggins-Hull
Take a listen :https://soundcloud.com/coos/shine
To learn more about Castle of Ours Skins