They Gave Us The Choice

They slammed their feet on the ground.
They slammed their feet,
And ran across the stage -
Sways of purple blending with green,
Shimmering golden silhouettes with
Swirling black waterfalls -
And leapt, caught in midair,
Trapped in memories of stories told,
Drowning in tears and pains,
And in the remorse their grandparents
Never discuss, an image of peace
Seared in perceptions of death.

They beat their chests,
Twenty fists challenging history,
Clearing life’s scattered remnants,
Making something out of nothing.
They stood, flag raised, chanting
For their rights and for their homeland,
Simply asking for solidarity and not charity,
For equality and not pity.
Their youth brought with it color
To age’s dusty vision,
Children lecturing adults.
They gave us a choice, they said.

They gave us the choice between death and death.
They gave us this choice,
And we chose Life. We chose Life.

posted by Lazarus, 6:47 PM