Long ago
the ancients say
this land was free
and we shared it all
with the mountains and the sea
the birds and the trees we lived in peace
long ago
before those others came
and built fences
by cutting the trees
dug miners
by cutting the earth
removed her blood
the oil that lies within
formed long ago
like us
who lived in peace
the birds sang less
without the trees
the land became dry
without the birds
to plant the flowers
and we too became quiet
watching our mountains die
listening for the birds
that no longer flew--
but still we lived in peace
what sustained us
through all those years?
the nights of silence
and the songs of the frogs
for we know
as the ancients said
this land will again be free
and we will again share it all
with the mountains and the sea
the birds and the trees
for we still live in peace
and we wish you the same
for we are all one
HARRIET KOFALK, indigenous Costa Rican
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