Kembe La (Hold On)

When the dust eventually clears my tears of hope will cleanse the souls of lives lost

My hopeful heart does not wave goodbye but waves go forth with deep intensity and memory.

My communication is not by phone but I will reach through the rubble and hold your hands when no one can

My mornings are filled with prayers for your afternoons and evenings

My rainbow colored smile will illuminate your surrounding darkness

My dull pencils will serve as additional soldiers in your battlefield

My tongue is saturated with the moisture you need to survive

My words will create coverage for the moments that rain explodes and runs down your cheek

My blood is your blood

My pain is your pain

Your strength is my strength

Your language is my speech

We stand united when we’re expected to fall

We are Mankind

We are Humanity

Hear us roar and hear us sing songs of peace

The rhythm is familiar

The sound is organic

The Anthem is filled with oxygen

We are Born Black Jacobins

We are together with Toussaint

We are descendants of Dessalines

We are sons of Charlemagne Peralte

We write with Rene Depestre

We take journeys with Jean Dominque

We are with Wyclef right now

We are Survivors of Slavery

We Overcame Occupation

We Pushed past Papa Docracy

We will always be bigger than baby doc

We Climbed over the hills of Coup D’Etat

When the earth shook and swallowed our beauty. The earth became filled with peace and love

When the earth shook and tasted our finest. The earth ingested freedom.

Loot the land but not the people. Show me signs and I’ll salute to Leogane with my palms drenched in our blues

L’union fait La Force is more than a motto it’s a testament of our courage.

I text 1  8  0  4 to the ancestors asking them for assistance.

Asking them to listen

Asking them to look upon the people and to breathe an essence of excellence

After shaking we sing and pray and laugh and cry and live

Nou Kembe La because Petionville has mountainous aspirations

Shake loose my skin and find the sun

My flesh my face my survival comes from you.

Together we shall drink each others tears of joy and pain to negate our nightmare and to empower our dreams.

Kembe La because it is necessary

Kembe La because they need us too

Kembe La

Kembe La

Kembe La