Your smooth, dark hands

Were once so kind and so gentle

Your eyes

Were once so bright and clear

You had never laid eyes

On the greedy and the power-hungry

And so

With your childish innocence

You had welcomed them with open arms

Those who would take away your home

Corrupt your hearts

Stain your hands with the blood

Of gold

And mar your backs

With scars that would last the ages

They took everything you had

Down to your spirit and innocence

They tortured you

As they tortured the very earth

That had born them

You had given them a kiss

While they gave you a bite

You gave them a hug

They returned with a whip

And yet

You remained taino

Brave, peaceful people

But with eyes clouded with fear

Hands shaking in anger

Fury festering in your heart

But you still knew how to love

And so jumping over the broom

You sealed a memory

One that is clear in my mind

You could not hate me

For you are to me

Like you are to the earth

And though I do not look it

I am part of you

And you are part of me

When you hug me

I hug back

When you kiss my cheek

I kiss the other

This past I do choose

And I would choose

If the land had not already

Been red

With the blood of darkness

And bored with holes

By the willing hands

Of the light children

This I do choose to keep

And I would not part with it

Give it to me

And I will store it

In the deep caverns of my heart

Where it will lie

Until another

Learns acceptance