FREEDOM by Ra Ife

You are a space I’ve traveled

Not a familiar memory,

but an epigenetic occurrence embedded in my DNA

And, not the kind most folks these days are hard up on releasing

No, you’re no generational curse

Harsh flashback of whips beating ancestors back

White hands crawling over my melanin, night terror

No

More a generational birthright

Feet planted on the motherland

FREEDOM

Tongue swallowing stolen language and reclaiming it once again

FREEDOM

Your love be pure

FREEDOM

That’s even to plain a word to really grasp

You, a breathing alter which requires minimal libations

Or, or, nourishment

Somehow I can hear a heartbeat when I come to worship and thank you

You sustain yourself

Such a familiar space

Forever embedded in my DNA

Trying to cleanse me if you now that I’ve had a taste of

FREEDOM

would be like trying to individually remove each vein pumping blood from my own flesh with my bare hands

TORTURE, myself NOT

Mmmmmm

I much rather allow you…to flow

In

Out

Through

And around me

You’re welcomed here, FREEDOM!