“George!”
Whispered a female voice
“Light that torch.”
Let us tell you the story about George – Life gave no choice!
Born in Sierra Leone
We had no reason to moan
Sunshine on my skin
Born with patience, it was never wearing thin
Sand floating; like the river Nile
Couldn’t help but listen to my Grandfather for a while
Birds tweeting like they’ve never seen any grief
While my conflict was still sleeping, there was always peace
Beautiful melody as the folks were singing
Happily, gathered around, the warmth you were bringing
One god, one world, one family
Meaning stability, giving security, living destiny, loving eternity
All of a sudden bullets like stars start to fly
All of a sudden tearless faces, start to cry
All of a sudden one became many
“Bekele!” whispered my nanny
“Light that torch, for peace!”
Deported! She was rebelling for peace, I’m down on my knees
Traumatized! Closed my eyes the whole journey, the land I see
Is not the land of the free
If it was? How come every black woman is put in chain
Centuries later, they will call my birth place “Free Town”
I guess I have to die for that freedom – skin black – eyes brown
Can you please tell me my name
It changed over time – History won’t remember me as the same
“George!” that is what I heard
“Hold that torch!” that’s what I was told, but didn’t understand any word
I didn’t understand why my mother was raped
I didn’t understand why my father’s blood was drained
I didn’t seem to know
To survive I had to extinguish that torches’ glow
Day in, day out on that field I had to starve
Standing on his porch, my self-righteous master would only laugh
Pregnant black woman on the fields
There is nothing that protects her or shields
Her from the truth and all the pain
Her virginity taken by force, her people regarding her as a stain
“Bekele!” that’s what she cried
“Hold that torch! He took all my pride!”
While holding that torch, the dark took her away
“She took her own life.” That’s what history will say!
Who will put us out of our agony?
Uncle Tom said:” George. Light that torch in history.
The fire of youth makes you want to extinguish that torches’ glow
Bear the pain patiently and tell your story like my mother Harriet Beecher-Stowe"
Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation
Came too late for me, but paved my people’s destination
The bullet of justice hit me in Tennessee
Trying to take my people back to “Free Town”. Finally free.
Sofia Omar in collaboration with Pen ‘N’ Paper
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