STRONG (a poem for unity)

I might not be what you want me to be

So you might not see what you want to see

But if you’ve got a minute – listen to what I’ve got to say

It’s year 2003 and it’s a brand new day

There’s a gap between my culture and the life that I lead

Some will call me an apple some a bad seed

They have no idea how my heart will bleed

Their words and their attitude are things I just don’t need

I’m proud of who I am and I’m proud of where I’m from

Those people spreading racism are just fuckin’ dumb

If you’re looking at my life and say I’ve assimilated

You’ve simplified things a little more complicated

I’m a modern day Indian with a modern day life

I have modern day problems and modern day strife

I hear other indians talk about the past

And will I do the same – fuck that

There’s no time to dwell on what’s already done

I have too many things that I want to do

They don’t include knives and they don’t include guns

I’m gonna talk about knowledge and sharing it too

My people need to learn how to cohabitate

Get rid of all the anger – get rid of all the hate

You gotta stop for a minute and learn to educate

You will see in the end – communication is great

There will be a time to make a stand and a time to fight

But if you do that – make sure the cause is right

Because if the cause is right and the cause is just

Greater numbers of people will be backing you up

History has repeatedly shown to us all

That united we stand and divided we fall

They weren’t talking about natives and natives alone

Because this is a big world and this is a very big home

I’ve seen beautiful people and ugly ones too

There is no single colour that comes into view

So the message that I’m sending is not very long

I just want the human race to be stronger than strong.

Kaluyu’ti (May –2003)