breathing this new air
while watching shards of
the shattered glass ceiling
fall at my feet
stepping on them toward new dreams
toward new ways of thinking and believing
we forge slave blood, lynch smoke,
and freedom dances into new keys for
the kingdom
on this day I cry for my grandparents and
my children
and believe in the impossible in my lifetime
I pour libations into America and
watch ghosts rise from Mississippi swamps
and the depths of the Atlantic
fly toward DC with smiles wide
as the middle passage
I tally votes like back lashes
like escape attempts and
every one seems worth it
every tear for stolen folks and
love sold down the road
seems worth it
now finally maybe possibly
the American dream
seems real
