Legacy
Heaven-Leigh A. Peters
I want you to say my name
And let it ring as loud as the oppressed can scream
I want you to say my name
And read my poems
And feel the pain
I want you to say my name
And remember how I shouted it even when fear was shoved down my throat
I want you to say my name
For the forgotten
For the hidden
For the silenced
I want you to say my name
And when you do
Say it with the power it once held
And the passion it onced emitted
Say it with arms stretched
Heart out
And mind open
Because that's how I lived it
Heaven-Leigh,
ReplyDeleteYour poem expresses such bravery. These are words of someone who has lived through fearful moments, but encountered that fear head-on.
The phrase “I want you to say my name” is striking because it encapsulates both strength and vulnerability--it’s both a demand and a plea. I also love that the narrator is not just thinking about herself, but about many others, and fights for them to be remembered as well. But the last four lines are my favorite, they give me goosebumps.
ReplyDeleteHeaven-Leigh,
ReplyDeleteYour poem speaks into importance what it means to feel pain, be forgotten, "disappeared" and ultimately silenced when your voice has reached a powerful fever pitch. As the reader, I am taking a parallel journey revisiting those moments that screamed oppression but left room for hope. What power and passion emanante from your words. Just, wow!
This poem really speaks to the power that's in a name. In the last few years especially the "Say his/her name" hashtag started by the Black Lives Matter movement has become an important way of remembering/memorializing the many people of color who have been victims of police shootings--Eric Garner, Michael Brown, and many others. It's a way of giving voice to, as the author says, "the forgotten, the hidden, the silenced."
ReplyDeleteVery powerful. I feel the strength and force that your are expressing. You are strong and want to be known for who you are.
ReplyDeleteKeep living the legacy of your name, Heaven-Leigh! Standing in that power will ensure your legacy.
ReplyDeleteThose last four lines are amazing! Well done.
ReplyDeleteTimeless. Strong. Passionate. Nice work!
ReplyDeleteAwesome poem, Heaven-Leigh!
ReplyDeleteIt is passionate, thoughtful and powerful!