Escuela De Mestizo/Amerindian School Poem by Javier Zamorano

Rising from the
ashes of our fallen warriors.
Kind warrior, saddened warrior
who fought and bled,
spoke and bled,
spoke and read the ways
of our ancient mothers and fathers.

I am both young
and ancient.
I wear an Independent beanie,
and in my heart
the voices of traditional feathers
rest.

I have ripped apart
false dreams
screamed silently every misdeed.

This long walk
has taken me
from the shores of the Rio Grande,
where Mestizos still gather in parks
and give witness
to the passions of our people.
And across illegally sanctioned
borders,
where today I make my stand.

I learn from you,
pray and meditate with you.
I smile because of you,
learn what it means
to be me.
Proudly, humbly
collecting each
fireside dance.
Alive,
alive when the music
speaks to my soul.
A music I am
no longer ashamed to know
lives forever in this
grateful soul.