See Me

Forced to walk that trail of tears

Dust in my throat

Names in my ears

Watching friends and loved ones fall

I have to carry their stories and pain

That’s all

We were told there was a brighter place

Signed-away future with a stranger’s face

Promised peace

Given iron and smoke

Smiles in the sunlight

Hands at our throats

See me

I am more than what your pages say

See me

I am breathing through this blood-stained day

You stole our land

You drew your lines

But you won’t erase these memories of mine

See me

See me

Broken earth and crowded ground

Four bare walls

Fences all around

Forced to squeeze whole worlds in a single room

Songs turned to whispers

Under the moon

Sisters taken in the dead of night

No one comes knocking

No call

No search

Their empty blankets

Laid out for us to cry

Remember each footprint

Each hand I held tight

Every small prayer

Thrown into the night

You took what you wanted

Left us with scars

But we’re still here

Counting your stars