This Culture of Mine

I will say it loud and say it now

I can not live without the culture that dates back to before I can remember

The culture that gives my blood a certain edge

The culture that decorates my body in orange, pink and blue patterns

A culture with strong men and even stronger women

A culture with an undying love for their creator

A culture that looks to the stars and thanks the lord for the creation of each one

A culture that sings along to the rhythmic thump and melodic bump of the world

This cultures makes me strong and weak

It makes be bold and new

From the busy streets that breathe life, to the music blooming out of the car radios

The scorching sun is no comparison to the glow it permits

The beauty it permits, the love it permits the history it permits

I can not live without it, without this culture that is mine.

I can do without the war, the hurt and the hunger, I can do without the loss and the greed

I can do without the rivalry and death, I can do without the blood, painting the ground, the tears soaking into the earth, the cries of a mother and the swollen eyes of a child

But I can not do without the laughs, and the smiles, the ecstatic eyes and beautiful skin

I can not do without the sound of new years, children running in the streets with sparklers, the night stars and the moon held in their eyes.

I can not do without the love and joy, the mangos, bread and sweet milk. I can not do without this rich history, I can not do without this culture that is mine.