'Queen'

I am yet to be born. But I know where i am from. I am yet to taste the sweet nectar Yet I am already full. I am yet to feel the earth, Yet my feet have already been muddied I am yet to give birth But children have already been ripped from my womb. You see. For I am. I have been here before I have Kissed the softest tongue, and I have danced the danced of our ancestors The ones with the big loud drums I have seen these trees, The ones that give you shade and cooled you in the afternoon sun, In the foothills of the Savannah Is where I am from. Down by the river, across the green mountain Just left down that hidden dusty path Is where I call home. Right there... look, there! That is where I call my own. The sun has kissed me, I have been reborn Many many many times before I have seen these shores And fetched the water when there was no more. I have heard the stories Of the time before, The time, the time... the time has come once more. I bled with my brothers I healed with my sisters I birthed with the mother's And hunted with the father's I played in the dirt, and swung from the trees I cooked nsima and masamba With mud and leaves. You see. For I am. I made the fire at night And brought you hot tea Straight from the garden, just passed the banana and mango trees Past the sugar cane and guava,and the bitter herbs Down the path, the long long path Sand and stones carving my soles. I gathered these leaves to bring you serenity. When we weathered the storms. I counted the stars, and called out their names, they call mine too...you see, it's part of our game. I sang with the birds Swam with the fish and bathed in the sun. That hot, hot sun tickling me Turning my sweet brown into honey. You caressed me. You see. For I am. Remember a grandmother, A grandmother of Africa. We call her agogo. Agogo........agogo......agogo.... She has laid down on her belly On hot fiery stones. Agogo...agogo....agogo... the drum beats on. The sun sets, and the dust rises The beat of the feet pounding the earth She has gone to bed fulfilled, with laughter Remembering the dance of her strong brown children now above, filled in her spirit is love.

The light from love. Agogo.. First to rise to the almost sunrisen skies, She has carried us on her back the weight has hunched her over, She has led us in the dark, her eyes now blind, She has been headstrong, her hair now gray, And she has loved us all, her laughter so rich. Now. Silence. Agogo... Too much violence has worn her down, scarring her body, almost tilting her crown Too much rape and pillage And fighting thieves, separating neighbor from neighbor, She remained brave, head up high. You see. Because she is, Is why I see I am. Right here... look, here! Here is where I call my own. Take me from her womb! (So I can feel her pain when I am here and I am alone) Engulf me in her bosom (So I can know how it is to lean on her love) Sing her old hymns (So I can know to sing out when your lungs filled with all your hatred almost tilt my crown) I have remained brave, head up high. I am ready! I walk with the ones who have walked before. For last night, I came, before I walked upon this earth...an angel in the night and whispered my name to her. Africa Go home.