Heroes [Poem]

HEROES
By Lesley-Ann Brown

We are the
Heroes
Of this situation

We who still
Smile at each other in
Grocery stores
Despite
The news

We who still
Ride our bikes
Late at night,
In so-called ghettoes.

We
Are the heroes
Of this situation

We who still
Ride buses &
We who still
Wear veils

We who remember
Who we are
although they
seem to all
Want us
To forget.

We are
The true heroes of
This situation

We who teach
Children
With softness in
Our eyes

Who give
Seats to the elderly &
The tired

We who see
Past whiteness
& browness &
into the universal
blackness of
humanity's iris.

We who don't hate because
of what somebody's
ancestors had done to our ancestors
we who don't judge
based
on a minority's stupidity
We who have
Courage
To try something new
Even if that something means
Cracking open
That curtain
To let the sun shine
Into our musty
Ignorance.

Source: Reprinted with kind permission of Lesley-Ann Brown
.............................................................................................


A Note From The Gull

Just recently, I came across the blog of Lesley-Ann Brown, "Black Girl on Mars: Notes on a life in Copenhagen" There is so much to capture the reader's interest on this blog, not the least of which is the author's active intellectual and personal engagement in a stimulating life and her ability to engage the reader while sharing her experiences and insights. One of the pieces which I found myself revisiting is her Youtube video called "Heroes". In it the author has put her poem to music with the aid of the musician, Woody. In this poem, she acknowledges the heroic everyday contributions of ordinary people, the ones who despite all reports to the contrary, continue to believe that goodness is alive and well. These are the "true heroes of this situation."

Lesley-Ann generously agreed to share her work on this blog as a tribute to all the Trinbagonians who heroically hold the fort day after day despite the attrition of all our societal ills. I join with her to thank my fellow Trinbagonians for, among many other gifts, the simple benedictions of their gentle and often musical "Good Morning's" or "Good Evening's." It is something that many take for granted but a custom which I personally find to be comforting and uplifting. My life abroad has trained me to steel myself against the blank stares that I often receive in response to my greetings.

Thank you Lesley-Ann and all the Trinbagonian heroes who will not surrender to despair.

"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creation
Blessed be my beautiful people
Blessed be the day of our awakening
Blessed is my country
Blessed are her patient hills.

Mweh ka allay!
Guanaguanare