Rise From Your Knee

Old friend Democracy There you are again Finally We thought you might have left us Forever Breathe God Almighty Breathe from your knee And rise for every one Like a black statue of liberty Over the old ways of Confederacy Put away The power that rules The gangland world. Inhale the air and take our fear Exhale a new century of equity Release a revolution of new riches Made of healing and advancing All A cosmic rainbow of color Arcing Over the wheat fields to the steel cities A baby’s coo from her mother’s cradle Born from where the sun begins Wrists slipped from shackles Voices loosed from nooses Boots lifted from the backs of necks Soot cleaned from Mother Earth Democracy Rise from your knee again Breathe Breathe A familiar kind of destiny. To be free. To be free. To be free.