It Was Before

It was before the pale rider came,
before my culture was smashed, spat 
upon and lied upon when black meant
wisdom, light, and truth and the element
of things was not reversed and bastardized.

It was before we were kidnapped and chained.

It was before someone wrote we were only 
three fifths human on what was called one of 
the greatest documents the world had ever
known.  

It was before it was thought the entire
world must go only one way, before the power
of selfishness and the belief in only the individual
mattered. We were a proud tribe then before this 
alien belief system.  

It was before me and my sisters were called
ugly and overlooked and there was only one
standard of beauty.

It was before real men who loved and protected
their women and children were emasculated
into weaklings and brutes.

It was before we were not allowed to be 
real warrior women bathed in the diamonds,
wisdom and truth of our continent, our weapons
not visible instruments of death, but mental
weaponry, for the best weapons against evil
and the crooked is the mind.

It was before my sisters and I were told
we could not go down to the crystal river 
in our high headdresses and beautiful 
and bright dresses to listen and wait for,
welcome the captive prince whom we 
had just learned was freed.


It was before that pale peculiar rider came
from the far cold north.


It was all before, and I will always remember
since I am here now exiled from my beloved,
from Africa.  I will get on my horse to go now
and free the new captive prince whom I love
before it is too late.