My Reclamation this 4th of July

When the river is too wide to cross

And the water is raging too fast

When we see the destination, but cannot make our way —

We will build a bridge of brotherhood and cross the river at last

When the air is cold and black with hate

And the fog of condemnation burns our eyes

When the shadows of oppression keep us hidden from the sun —

You can climb upon my shoulders until we reach the skies

For it’s not enough to want it — need it

And deserving doesn’t make it true

I believe hate fails and love prevails

Take a stand, demand justice overdue

Singing —

No one can take what is not theirs to give

No one can break you or choose how you live

And I don’t need permission to have what is mine

This is my reclamation, this is my right divine

I am weary of hostility

And I am saddened by the ugliness of fear

I’m confounded by morality that builds a bitter wall

But I will bare my heart to you so all the world will hear

That it is not enough to want it — need it

Just to forward and delete

I believe hate fails and love prevails

Rejoice the choice, take our voices to the street

Singing —

No one can take what is not theirs to give

No one can break you or choose how you live

And I don’t need permission to have what is mine

This is my reclamation, this is my right divine

For all those before us

For those yet to come

For the sons and the daughters of violent waters…

No one can take what is not theirs to give

No one can break you or choose how you live

And we won’t go softly into the night……

…This is our reclamation, this is my right

No one can take what is not theirs to give

No one can break you or choose how you live

And I don’t need permission to have what is mine

This is my reclamation, this is my declaration to all of the nation

This is my light—to shine

Upon the Phoenix, we Arise from the Illusion