03/06/2025
Baptized in Blues
Baptized in blues,
Our hearts beat strong,
In energetic connection,
We found our song.
A sound the world parrots—
From feathery plumes
To cotton fields of sorrow,
Our spirit soared,
Despite defeat.
Blues, Hip-Hop, Jazz—
Our voices rang;
In every note,
Our legacy sang.
Yet, as we danced
To our own tune,
The world watched,
Eager to consume.
Appropriated, monetized,
Our culture sold,
But our essence, our soul,
Remains bold.
Unclaimed by Africa,
Yet deeply tied;
In every beat,
Our ancestors reside.
In the land of the free,
We set the tone—
Our influence felt,
Our power denied,
But well-known.
From fashion to music,
We lead the way,
Our vibration high,
Come what may.
Baptized in blues,
We rise anew;
In every struggle,
Our strength shines through.
For though the world
May try to claim,
Our spirit, our essence,
Remains untamed.
Blue—a color Of depth and feeling—
Evokes both calm
And a sense of healing.
A hue of sorrow,
Yet also serene;
In its reflection,
Our pain is seen.
Wading in the mouth
Of an endless sea,
Women hum
An ancient melody.
Preacher and deacon
Baptize my body,
But they do not wash
The blues off me.
Baptized in the blues,
They say I was born to lose—
Cursed from the start,
Bound to serve
With my body and my art.
Suddenly, a sweet epiphany
Becomes so clear—
Placing me in a history
That goes back to the beginning
And stretches out
To all eternity.
I am the clay
Stuck to God’s hands,
The dove on the ark
With the olive branch,
Sea-faring tour guide,
The cotton-picking
Thorn in your side.
I am your belly nerves,
Your hand clutching your purse.
I am the guilt
In your spirituality,
Questioning your Christianity.
Build the tallest steeple—
God knows His people.
Flawed as fool’s gold,
A more powerful story than mine
Has never been sold.
By Jessica Holter
Book: Flowers in the Garden
Baptized in BluesBaptized in blues, Our hearts beat strong, In energetic connection, We found our song.A sound the world parrots—From feathery plumes To cott...
