In my country, I see liberated souls.
The shackles of suffering and poverty broken forever more.
The salty tears of bitterness wiped from my gogo’s cheeks.
The calloused hands of fathers massaged back to tenderness.
The voices of mothers heard and heeded.

In my country, I hope for eternal peace.
The chorusing of beautiful hymns of uk’thula noxolo.
Peace and forgiveness.
The burial of a hatchet older than my years.

In my country, I strive to loosen my clenched fist.
To whitewash the hate
And hold onto my brothers and sisters.
To levitate
With them
To heights I had only dreamed of!
And keep rising.