He took a knee
Only to become the tallest on the field
They scramble in his shadow
Because they are afraid
That he will realize
He has no cause to bow
To those who cower beneath him
Refusing to be in the company
Of someone who can stand in his power
Even while remaining on his knees
He took a knee
Only to become the tallest on the field
The others began to join him
So they took him off the field
Because they are afraid:
What if they all realize?
That it is possible to stand in one’s power
Even while remaining on one’s knees
He took a knee
And they will not forgive him for it
They’ve announced penalties to deter the others
They cannot bare to see them in their humanity
Because white supremacy is a thief of empathy
So they will punish anyone
Willing to lift such a powerful truth
Even as they grieve on their knees
Oh, white supremacy.
Have you learned nothing yet?
What do you think happens
Once they realize
That together on their knees
They are more powerful than you could ever be
Standing in your judgement, with your fines, and your insecurity
Unable to see the gift that they’ve brought you
A chance to be with the brutality
You’ve been taught to tune out
A chance to find your humanity
They’ve given you a way out!
Aren’t you miserable yet?
Have you not grown tired?
Truth is a flame
But love is the fire
And this love lifts them higher and higher and higher
It is LOVE that has brought them to their knees!
I hope they aren’t deterred
I hope they’re stronger still
I hope they rise and shout
And move no inches till
There is no room for doubt
And we’ve seen how we’re unwell
Until it makes us all fall down to our knees
And together on the ground
We sit humbly with the truth
We weep for what we’ve lost
And pull weeds up by their root
Mending wounds, correcting lies
Planting seeds that will bear fruit
So we might rise together off our knees
It’s all of us or none of us
Don’t let them fool you now
They may think that they benefit
But go on, tell me how
When so much of their power
Rests on what we allow
And the rest of that same power
From what they falsely disavow
It’s why they cannot stand us on our knees!
So the only thing to ask now
The only thing we need
Is to decide who we are
And let that judgement free
The truth of who we are
Is who we’ll always be
And the truth don’t give a fuck about their fees
Free at last!
Free all along
To become whole
Inside a song
With strength to bring
Us all along
Sung from our souls
And from our lungs
And with each note
Our healing comes
And with each hope
We have begun
And with our love
We rise as one
But ONLY WHEN the work is done
And the work is what has brought them
To their knees.
