I
walk
with
the
drum
in
my
chest
Red
soil
in
my
step
Grandmother’
s
names
on
my
tongue
Like
a
song
I
won’
t
forget
I’
ve
crossed
many
borders
But
they
never
crossed
me
In
my
bloodline
river
There’
s
a
whole
old
sea
So
don’
t
tell
me
who
I
am
I
know
where
I
begin
From
the
mango
tree
to
the
market
road
It’
s
living
under
my
skin
I’
m
not
African
Because
I
was
born
in
Africa
Africa
was
born
in
me
Africa
was
born
in
me (
Africa
was
born
in
me)
I’
m
not
African
Because
I
was
born
in
Africa
Africa
was
born
in
me
Africa
was
born
in
me (
Africa
was
born
in
me)
On
the
bus
at
dawn
With
the
sack
and
the
smile
Dust
on
the
sandals
And
patience
in
the
trial
The
auntie
at
the
corner
Said
child,
keep
your
head
high
Your
roots
go
deep
Like
rain
in
July
So
don’
t
tell
me
who
I
am
I
know
where
I
begin
From
the
drum
and
the
cane
field
It’
s
living
under
my
skin
I’
m
not
African
Because
I
was
born
in
Africa
Africa
was
born
in
me (
Africa
was
born
in
me)
I’
m
not
African
Because
I
was
born
in
Africa
Africa
was
born
in
me
I’
m
not
African
Because
I
was
born
in
Africa
Africa
was
born
in
me
Africa
was
born
in
me (
Africa
was
born
in
me)
Hear
the
old
song
call
me
back
Through
the
fire
and
rain
I
carry
a
thousand
stories
In
my
joy
and
pain
No
chain
can
name
my
spirit
No
border
hold
my
fire
I
am
the
child
of
the
living
earth
And
I
rise
higher
I’
m
not
African
Because
I
was
born
in
Africa
Africa
was
born
in
me
Africa
was
born
in
me (
Africa
was
born
in
me)
I’
m
not
African
Because
I
was
born
in
Africa
Africa
was
born
in
me
Africa
was
born
in
me (
Africa
was
born
in
me)