Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/active-activity-adult-adventure-264151/
To the person who climbed the ladder,
Fighting every temptation,
with each step, a dagger to the foot,
With each step, a new crippling snake slithering on her leg,
with each step, a new milestone,
all she wanted was to reach up high,
for the most precious apple from the tree,
with each step, a challenge because no one was going to do it,
To the person who dreamed, dreamed of high towers and high buildings,
Higher wells and less buckets,
Overflowing of water,
To rid of the thirst surrounding the village,
To rid of the dryness and ash on the children’s feet,
To rid of the empty stomachs of our mothers, and give hope to our fathers,
To rid, and to fight each challenge because no one was going to do it,
To the person who swam,
Galloping and rising for every type of free,
Rising with the waves, hoping to see another day,
Rising for the fresh air, to breath in a new life,
Because no one was going to do it,
To the person who wrote,
Wrote the stories of our ancestors,
Each story carved out and branded into our dark skin, the words of the wise, the strong,
Each story reminding us of our traditions,
Each story embracing the wounds and pain,
Each story carrying their tears from here and now, because no one was going to do it,
To the person who created,
The clothing we wear, a name for ourselves,
The soft fabric hugging our bodies,
Reminding us of where we come from,
Reminding us of who we are,
Reminding us of the why,
Because no one was going to do it,
To the person who spoke,
Graciously, never to leave anyone out,
Spoke of us,
Of why we matter,
Of why we belong,
Belong to be here,
Belong to fight for what we believe in,
Because no one was going to do it,
And to the person who remembered,
Why we do it,
Because if we don’t do it, someone else will.
Somebody gotta do it. If not you, then who else?
Diaka Thiam is a Senegalese-American blogger, poet, and educator. She has self-published two poetry books. Her work embodies the African woman. As a first-born African daughter, she has a lot to share. Diaka uses her writing as a way of healing. She is currently working on her Master of Science in Counseling Psychology. Be sure to check out Diaka’s website.
Dark Hues 