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I have seen desolate places and have cried
upon clouded hill tops all in the name of love
tears stained upon my face for the sacrifice
I have given thee
I have suffered in the name of a man and
tasted the blood of the cross for burdens
I do carry as I maintain the role of being
merely my brother's keeper
To live free a man must be totally free
free from chains of racial conflictions
and derogatory actions reaping from the
color of my skin or the mere tone of my voice
I had to die in slavery through the paths
of my mind stuff the cotton in dark cracks
of memories as I crawl in a fetal position
and fight the tears that command their presence
like a child I call for my mother to save me
my woman to love me and my brothers to respect me
My only defense against the key keepers is that
I walk in God’s light only there can I be
safe and whole and find the tools I need to build
my way to strengthen my walk and the extensions
to gather my faith
