Celebrating Juneteenth,

I resurrected the djembe

and

marched in the light of God

 

Keeping time with

syncopated rhythms,

we danced and

we sang with hope and

heavy hearts

how we knew

freedom was coming

“Oh, yes,” we sang,

“I know!”

 

With little rhyme

and less reason,

We beat joy

into sacred songs and the griot

answered the call,

Covering us

in holy fire

Breathing grace

into our sway

Giving voice

to our visions

Guiding us

into a brighter day

 

Echoes of bravado

for fierceness —

Empty and hollow music

filling up

the emptiness

inside