On this day 11 years ago, 27 August 2009, I wore a brand new dress which I made of Ghanaian fabric, and a bolero made from South African Da Gama blue shwe shwe to become a naturalized USA citizen at an oath ceremony in Seattle.
Now hundreds of miles from the ocean, in the northern Chihuahuan desert, I recycle my oath swearing dress into masks against the virus.
Cue Patti Smith ”...we shall live again...”
We shall live again, we shall live
What is it children that falls from the sky? Tayi, taya, tayi, aye, aye Man from heaven from the most high Food from the father, tayi, taye, aye
We shall live again, we shall live again We shall live again; shake out the ghost dance
Peace to your brother; give and take peace Tayi, taya, it leaves two feet One foot extended, snake to the ground Wave up the earth, one turn around
We shall live again, we shall live again We shall live again; shake out the ghost dance
Stretch out your arms, now tip and swing Rude up thy bird, tayi, tayi Threw out your shoe over the soil Dust off the words that shaped from the tale
We shall live again, we shall live again We shall live again; shake out the ghost dance
Here we are, father, lord, holy ghost Bread of your bread, ghost of your host We are the tears that fall from your eyes Word of your word, cry of your cry
We shall live again, we shall live again We shall live again
What is it, father, in your eye? What is this wisdom, eyes of God That makes me feel just what I need? You used to fly me the way to speed
What is it, father, holy that night? What is it, father, that moves to the right? What is it, father, that is waiting in heaven? What is it, father, that shapes from your hand? What is it, father, that makes me spin around? What is it, father, that brings me down? What is it, father? You can't tell what I like? What is it, father? I just ride into space What is it, father? I can tell you one night What is it, father? I can tell what I like What is it, father? Are you into shape? What is it, father? Are you calling today? What is it, father?
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