Invisible

Living invisible lives behind hammers, hoes, brooms; molding steel and concrete
Your children born hard looked around at the country you'd built - then took to the streets
Said no more bowing of heads or turning the other cheek, they spoke up and started to feel
Rage, the anger folded inward for survival, runs in the blood - it's what made torn hearts beat

Your children born hard looked around at the country you'd built - then took to the streets
They'd had enough of the beatings, the lynchings, the murdering, all that lying and cheating
Rage, the anger folded inward for survival, runs in the blood - it's what made torn hearts beat
Some wanted to take up arms, or to defend by any means necessary - others by demonstrating

They'd had enough of the beatings, the lynchings, the murdering; all that lying and cheating
Some learned to attack the problems of race and hatred by reclaiming their traditions peacefully
Some wanted to take up arms, or defend by any means necessary - others by demonstrating
History tells stories of countless who defended the people, who never gave up willingly

Some learned to attack the disease of race and hatred by reclaiming old traditions peacefully
Cut tongues were pieced together in songs for the ancestors and playing the sacred drum
History told stories of countless who defended the people, who never gave up willingly
Their spirits soared while their descendants prayed to their own God, dancing in the sun

Cut tongues were pieced together in songs for the ancestors and playing the sacred drum
Ceremonies for healing the creation were remembered, and hearts took on another beat
Their spirits soared while their descendants prayed to their own God, dancing in the sun
No more living invisible for others - behind hammers, hoes, brooms, molding steel and concrete




©/s Odilia Galván Rodríguez, 2009