In their Presence

My ancestors would not agree
Oh how they’d be so mad with me
My ancestors would speak the truth
They’d say “child, there is no slave in you”
“That slave, you descended from, was forced by fear
But they were strong and that is why you are here
There’s a fight in you, so you’re one in the same
You are more than those hard working hands, more than that name
Generation after generation, there passed great traits
That skin, hair, your mind, those hands which were made to create
To build up, not just yourself, but your people my child
To feed the minds, to watch it grow, but to be kind, but stay wild
Don’t feel bad for yourself child, because life can in fact be cruel
But in the animal kingdom, the strong survive and that is our life rule
You have to know when to run, know when to hunt, sleep and hide
Be the predator AND the prey, because this is the only way you can survive.
Give yourself to build others, but take what you need to stay alive
Believe in yourself child, this is how to take pride
This is how you will learn
That is how you get stronger
And this is how you stay strong
You lead and follow, you follow and lead
The matriarch of her herd, the leader of leaders to be
So when you look in the mirror and those eyes look back at you
You are witness to the greatness your ancestor could do
Proof that the blood runs deep and our spirits are here
Understand that no matter how far, we will always be near.
Here to remind you, my child, that you come from something so great
Born from the motherland, passed through the hate, with life’s lessons, survived despite the tears, created that which was impossible, rose up through what was feared
You my child, are more than an ancestor could hope for
Remember that as I tell you this
Life is hard, full of misses and hits
But you learn, you evolve, you adapt and you thrive
In this human kingdom you just learn to survive
Be the predator and the prey
Learn to give and when to take
Know all of this and you’ll be okay.
Now awake my child, with fire in the sky there us a new day
Arise my child, get out in to the world, it’s time for you to slay”