I pulled down my own walls
Brick by brick I dismantled
My identity stripped to its soles
My soul bare with no hand holds
Life weighing me down like lead shoes
Walking through quick sand
Seeing hope flicker like water on dunes
A mirage far off never in hand
Lost.
Wandering.
I don’t know who I am…
The sunrise.
Truth rising.
Hope fighting.
Rise
RISE
RISE!!
My soul finds rest in a new face
De-colonized vision, restructure my faith
Rise from the earth my indigenous mind
Surveying the world with reborn eyes
The sun reminding me of the creator
I can have purpose I can have favor
Eagle feathers bring me protection
Ancient wisdom to put into application
I begin to re-build my identity
Not brick, but wild-lands
Rivers and trees reflecting beauty
Vines and birds nest around my hands
From feet grow deep roots that bind me
Bears and wolves hear my roar
Dancing around the fire, my soul free
My heritage real not unheard lore
My foundation reformed from cities
To wild spaces, my reclamation
Redemption found in my Mechoopda blood
Hope drowns me in a flood.