Reflexión De Este Vaso...

C2C PROCESS NOTES

Thoughts:

I reflect often on the beauty and mystery of my land and those stripped from that land. I use nature (like Emergent Strategy) to reflect on Nicaragua and my people through poetry. Every story is unique, and still I see the connections between my humanity and legacy and those of the African Diaspora.

The beauty and skin of my ancestors is reflected in nature. I see them in the waters and land, I feel their power. They give me hope and healing. We are everywhere and connected to everything. I know that I have to do something, in order to cause a shift; I (we) must be a vessel.

I am an instrument--I fight for Black liberation, by which I obtain my own.

I stand in speaking truth with words of light and freedom! Melodies that bring us together through our fights and struggles; songs that will bring healing through vulnerability, music that will serve as a reflection--a mirror to seek one's power, one’s worth. We must reflect, look into each other's eyes, the windows to our souls and see we hold power. A magic that has been suppressed, hidden and denied. Or perhaps never discovered. 

As my hands begin the process of crafting and carving these lino blocks, I'm thinking of these faces. I am thinking about the features: eyes, lips and hair. Faces that I love, Black and Indigenous People of Color. A reflection of who we are. I think about the role of this block print and how it resembles a fossil. Fossils are the preserved remains, or traces of remains, of ancient organisms. I think about the layers in our history, our features, our ancestry. Our people.

Work in Progress

What am I willing to do? I am willing to be the vessel that I am. This is only the beginning, now is the moment when we ascend. There is no going back to bondage or blindness. No more silence. I renounce this posture of obedience. I renounce this posture submission. 

That is why I am answering this Call To Create.

Reflexiones en poema.

Que estoy dispuesta hacer?

Quiero ser Un vaso, un instrumento. 

Reflexión De Este Vaso

Mirando en el espejo, veo tu cara. (las caras)

Veo tus ojos marrones como el frijol de cafe.

La forma de tu nariz ancha como las curvas del Cerro Negro.

Las líneas de tus pómulos tan finas que cautivan mis ojos a rastrearlos.

Veo tus labios, y en su forma susurrando la melodía de la mora limpia.

Tu cabello negro como el infinito del universo.

Tu piel morena ardiente y dulce como el cacao. 

Tan rica como un pinolillo en el calor de un atardecer. 

India. Negra. Mestiza.

Sos hermosa

De los montes que sembraste

Hasta aquella costa en el cual encontraste tu libertad.

Siempre has sido parte de estas tierras y de estas aguas.

Veo tu reflexión en los lagos.

Tu canción resuena como el sonido de las corrientes de las aguas.

Y el furor de tu corazón en los volcanes. 

Este espejo no tiene fin. 

Vos no tenes fin.

Tu reflexión me ha enseñado profundidades inimaginables.

Me has mostrado los secretos de esta tierra,

De esta piel. De esta alma.

Este espejo es un vaso

Existo yo, Existes tu.

Veo tu reflexión en mi.

Nuestras caras se han mezclado.

Somos uno.

Ahora, seré yo el vaso

El instrumento que mi Creador usará.

Mis canciones cambiaran a un sonido de luz y libertad.

Palabras que romperan cadenas del pasado y su veneno presente.

Melodías con son de sanidad y restauración.

Frases que conmoveran y expondrán poderes  en magnitud.

Veo tu reflexión en mi.

Te veo en mi.

Seré el vaso y el instrumento de mi herencia. 

Somos uno.

Reflections in poem.

What am I willing to do?

A vessel, an instrument. 

Reflection of This Vessel

Looking in the mirror I see your face. (the many faces)

I see your eyes, brown like coffee beans.

The shape of your wide nose like the curves of the Cerro Negro. (1)

The lines of your cheekbones, so fine that they captivate my eyes to trace them.

I see your lips, and in their form whispering the melody of the mora limpia. (2)

Your hair is as black as the infinity of the universe.

Your fiery brown skin is sweet like cocoa. 

As delicious as pinolillo in the heat of a sunset. (3)

Indigenous one. Black one. Mestiza.  

You are beautiful

From the mountains you sowed

To that coast where you found your freedom. (4)

You have always been part of these lands and these waters.

I see your reflection in the lakes.

Your song resounds like the sound of the currents of the waters.

And the fury of your heart in the volcanoes. 

This mirror has no end. 

You have no end.

Your reflection has taught me unimaginable depths.

You have shown me the secrets of this land,

Of this skin. Of this soul.

This mirror is a vessel.

I exist, you exist.

I see your reflection in me.

Our faces have become blended 

We are one.

Now, I will be the vessel.

The instrument that my Creator will use.

My songs will change to a sound of light and freedom.

Words that break chains of the past and its present poison.

Melodies of healing and restoration.

Phrases that move and will expose powers in magnitude.

I see your reflection in me.

I see you in me.

I will be the vessel and instrument of my heritage. 

We are one.

1. CERRO NEGRO: IS AN ACTIVE VOLCANO IN THE CORDILLERA DE LOS MARIBIOS MOUNTAIN RANGE IN NICARAGUA, ABOUT 10 KM FROM THE VILLAGE OF MALPAISILLO. THE VOLCANO CONSISTS OF A BLACK ("NEGRO") BASALTIC CINDER CONE WITH ASSOCIATED LAVA FLOWS, INCLUDING AN AA FLOW FIELD REACHING 4 KM TO THE NE AND SW.

2. LA MORA LIMPIA: (THE CLEAN MORA) ORIGINALLY CREATED BY NICARAGUAN MUSICIAN JUSTO SANTOS, IS CONSIDERED TO BE A SECOND NATIONAL ANTHEM IN NICARAGUA, CENTRAL AMERICA. IT REPRESENTS THE HEART, SOUL, AND THE JOY OF NICARAGUA. THE ARTIST WAS INSPIRED BY THE RITUALISTIC PROCESS OF CUTTING BLACKBERRY TREES AND CLEARING A PATHWAY IN A PLACE CALLED LA MORA IN NICARAGUA. THIS WAS IN ORDER TO CREATE A CLEAN PATH AND WITNESS THE PROCESSION OF A ST. BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

3. PINOLILLO: AN INDIGENOUS DRINK MADE FROM CACAO & SWEET CORN. GROWING UP MY MOTHER ALWAYS REMINDED US OF HOW CACAO AND CORN ARE THE ESSENCE OF NICARAGUAN CULTURE. THIS IS STILL A DELICACY TO INDIGENOUS NICARAGUANS.  

4. THE COAST WHERE  YOU FOUND YOUR FREEDOM: THIS REFERS TO THE HISTORY OF ENSLAVED AFRICANS FROM JAMAICA WHO LATER SOUGHT FREEDOM IN AND AROUND BLUEFIELDS, NICARAGUA  IN THE 1700's. AFTER BRITISH EMANCIPATION IN 1834, THE AREA BECAME A DESTINATION FOR FREEBLACK PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE BRITISH-CONTROLLED CARIBBEAN.