I wonder what their names were

The names their mother whispered over them

Singing lullabies of peace

She could not afford to give

I wonder if my skin came from forbidden love

Or from men taking things that did not that belong to them

I hope she knew she did not belong to him

That she was God’s and one day she’d march on to Zion

I wonder if she looked to heaven as her only escape

Or in defiance found hope in this world

I know she had hope that one day she’d be free

And I hope she knows she found it in me.