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In memory of our ancestors... rivers black wood rugged earth barren land -------------------------------- By SHAUNTAY GRANT In memory of our ancestors... rivers black wood rugged earth barren land stand sunken on a hill marred by loose talk and defamation up from slavery's narration placed them/we/us on rejected dirt we: preston's prize covertly crucified on invisible crosses hand to hoe foot to plough face to shrub back to sun left to starve and fall prey to the elements unprepared for and unjustly subjected to harsh winters and unwanted soils we have known rivers our food sprung from rivers of salt/water sweat our spirit moved daily to tears our voice flood masses and congregations with fervent incantations talk of historical correlations linking prestons to southern isles while history reveals a well known secret once again and for the first time we have known rivers we've traveled the length of zambezi bathed our children in nile waters baptized sons and daughters in sources and springs southern sea sings of rivers and crossings drinkin gourds and supernatural signs bind us to centuries of searching but when will we find the source the spring water brought us to this thing we call freedom this intangible real composed of rivers rivers we must cross waters we must drink and drown and swim and stroke and tame for we to be free with struggle comes triumph over chains that bind to barren land many rivers we've crossed many trials we've tried freedom is at hand |
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*Shauntay Grant's article on Langston Hughes appeared in the 2002 Black History & African Heritage Supplement.
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