Its been 20 plus years since i celebrated a 28th of july in Peru. Its been a long time,away from home. But this year it will be the most memorable one in my lifetime. Mostly, because of what is happening in Bagua but also for the fact that both my parents are there today and that adds to the mounting yearning to write and to be at the homeland. i mus admit its not easy, but i always remember the pride that came from el 28 de Julio and now as an adult( most of the times!) i've learned to see this day as one of reflection. Reflect on the past and acknowledge that there is much work to be done in the land of the incas.
the recent events in Bagua have brought up issues of class, race, Indigenous Rights (#nosamsclub) and Free Trade (NO DRILLING IN THE AMAZON!) and the ongoing issues in the United States with race and politics really foreshadow my feelings of END-DEPENDENCE.
We never seem to find this idea to be free. we exchange this feeling of freedom for dependence. Please no Global Economy speeches! it seems to me that all we have done is changed owners.
but what can we do about it?
i know what i will do. i will write, i will speak, perform to inform raise my pen in defiance and my fist in alliance with mi gente que siempre estan en mente until the we can breathe freedom under each breath.
So on this 28 de Julio, while we celebrate our rich history lets remember that we are still DEPENDENT on the system that was implanted when the Spaniards left. Not much has change, but hope in the Homeland and in the hearts of peruano's world wide drives me and many others.
So one day my ladies (pictured below) can see my homeland and call it their own as well.
last night Peruvian President Alan Garcia went on national tv to save face. i figured it was time to release this poem. Please feel free to copy and paste and send to listserves, friends, post it on your blog. all i ask is that you give credit to me and post the link to my blog.
i've put links to youtube videos on some of the words so you can get some info on what went down.
Thank you/Gracias
Rodrigo
**NOTE: i have added the mp3 poem for your listening pleasure, this poem will be featured on my upcoming EP The Homeland**
With my hands I write these words for the homeland
Today my heart stopped My blood spilled On land that will be given To oil companies that will rape it Brand it, and sell it with my name on it
Today my body is motionless on the road With no one to claim it Until the bullets stop flying Until they stop crying Because no one asked them if they wanted to perforate their people asked them if they wanted to witness babies dying
The ground sobbed red tears as bodies fell Painting a brief picture of living hell
With my hands I write these words for the homeland
Today Peru lost 2-1 and people said they played with no heart, I know where it lays.
In Bagua where blood mixes with brown soil In rivers where brothers and sisters float boca abajo. And mothers try to identify body parts While I am trying to identify self worth
Remembering that the blood spilled is pumping through my veins, that the land where I was born to the land where I stand will always be indigenous land. Remembering. That when we left in 88 Alan Garcia was fucking up the economy Then ran to hide in Paris Only to come back for a reconquista to kill people he sees as second class
Today the bullets cried My brothers and sister died Media blinded to the lies That the cowards use to hide
With my hands I write these words for the homeland
Today I died in bagua But when my funeral comes Don’t put me in a casket Or bury me 6 feet under
Instead baptize me in the Marañon River So my soul flows south with the blood spilled
Bury me next to the mass graves With my eyes wide open So i can see What others say is not there
Then broadcast these words over radio waves Banned for speaking the truth
Indigenas nunca son cuidadanos de segunda clase Indigenous people are never 2nd class citizens
This is for my people In the homeland Fighting in the trenches Blocking streets, police While we overseas fight the oasis painted by white picket fences This is for Alfredo,Pelusa, Mariana, rodrigo, camilo y Apu Who remind me of home and fuel the purpose of what I do for our babies, who asked why we cry at this injustice
For jose Antonio Encinas who taught me about power And how politicians’ abuse it, we call them cowards
This for Santiago Manuin Because 8 bullets could not stop his heart beating His strength His fight for his people Their land
This is for Pizango finding refuge in Nicaragua While his heart and spirit stays in bagua
And for the rest of us Who are away from home In strange lands that we can’t call our own Some of us facing death for the first time and Raising fists, pens, and words in defiance To form a global alliance with you, our people. Because borders, time zones, years, guns and oppression Cannot stop our love for you. Today I died in Bagua And was reborn to use my hands to write these words for the homeland
