Thirty-Five

Thirty-Five

You would be Thirty-five

I’m wishing 

you were still alive

Celebrating 

that we have arrived

A seat at the table and we survived

Generations of Oppression and Genocide

Taught it’s safest to stay quiet and hide 

Never have too much pride

keep everything inside

But we could taste the poison

of unspoken truths

Truth is, you showed me how to speak

Out to a crowd and against the man

All the while, staying hand in hand

Overcoming all obstacles

Stronger together, we continued to stand. 

You would be Thirty five

Now I stand alone

but our souls have grown

Friends for so long, life’s needle has sewn

our beings together

I know I’m never on my own

I can still feel your hand

Holding me high

Guiding my way

As I reach to the sky

No longer afraid

Because you taught me to fly

Now flying with me

Invisible 

Cloud like wings 

You would be Thirty-Five