**Once Upon a Time**
Once upon a time, in a land of sun-kissed soil,
We danced beneath the stars, our laughter a joyful toil.
We were a people, vibrant, our dreams like the skies,
With hearts like the rivers, flowing deep and wise.
But shadows crept in, dark clouds on the rise,
The winds carried whispers, the sound of our cries.
"Be strong," we said, as the drums of fate beat loud,
Yet chains of despair wrapped us, a heavy shroud.
They came with their ships, with eyes void of grace,
Tearing apart families, erasing our place.
"Run!" we pleaded, but the earth held us tight,
In the grip of the night, we fought for the light.
"Can you hear us?" we called, as the stars blinked above,
In the silence of sorrow, we clung to our love.
Through pain and through struggle, we wove our own tale,
Each heartbeat a testament, each breath a frail sail.
In the hollows of anguish, we found strength anew,
With the echoes of ancestors, guiding us through.
For though they may shackle our bodies in chains,
Our spirits soared higher, breaking free from the pains.
We sang songs of tomorrow, of children yet born,
Of hopes rising bright, like the light of the dawn.
In every tear shed, in every silent plea,
We forged a new path, a legacy to be.
So remember, dear child, as you walk through this life,
We are the whispers of courage, the dance in your strife.
Though our bodies were captured, our essence remains,
In the heart of your journey, our spirit sustains.
Once upon a time, in a land where we thrived,
The story continues, for our love has survived.
In your laughter, we linger; in your strength, we abide,
We are the ancestors, forever your guide.
Gwenzo 
