For my sisters living with HIV/AIDS

You are now as sky
You are here
I see you
I feel your hand
I see you stand
Like mountain
Like tree

Sister
Sister
Steady as brick
As fire
Defined by your own calling
You are not a status
Not a hashtag
Not in the way
Not a circumstance
Not a disease

You are a revolution
A face
A foot
A foot
To left
And right
And left
And right again

You are not a past tense
You see those tomorrows?
You see those days?
Those months and years?

I hear you cry and sing
Feel earth move when you walk and dance
When you stomp and skip
Sister you are movement, mighty and magic

I know the nights get long and lonely
Some mornings cold and dark
But you stay
You keep staying
Rest when you're weary
Don't we get weary?
Don't we want to give up?
Don't we want to let it all go?
Don't those rowdy winds blow?
Don't we want the ground to open and swallow us whole?
Sometimes
Sometimes

Aren't there days though?
Aren't there moments?
There must be moments
When a raindrop lands easy on your forehead
And you are you again

Sister
Sister
You are not a them way over there
Sister
Sister
You are me right in my reach

I will hold your hand
I will say your name
I will listen when you call

Sister
Sister

Stay