A Longing for Belonging

I belong.

You belong.

We all  belong.

But it doesn’t always feel that way.

I have a longing for belonging.

My parents are from a long way away, The Congo.

They did not belong.

Forced to leave to escape war.

They traveled a long distance to Burundi.

They had a longing for belonging.

My dad Deo and my mom Salima , all belong.

I belong.

You belong.

We all belong.

But it doesn’t always feel that way.

I have a longing for belonging.

I am from a long way away, Burundi.

I did not belong.

I was forced to leave for a better life.

I traveled a long distance to the USA.

I had a longing for belonging.

My brothers Jean, Merci, Asifiwe, Clement, and sisters Chanceline and Kevine, all belong.

I belong.

You belong.

We all belong.

But it doesn’t always feel that way.

I have a longing for belonging.

The faces in our school

Echoing the distant halls.

Have a longing for belonging.

The voices repeat in my ears.

The voices long to be heard.

The voices have a longing for belonging.

My friends Saru, Mwamvua, Nyota, Payal, Luz, Solange, Sheni, Divine, Ganga,Manueli,  Ndeye, Mbathio, Mame, Odre, Amani, Asumani , Akbar, Anna and Florence all belong.

I belong.

You belong.

We all belong.

But it doesn’t always feel that way.

I have a longing for belonging.

The faces of my team

Running long distances.

We have a longing for belonging.

Our legs long for the finish line of home.

Our lungs burn with the longing for the air not there. 

My teammates Joyeuese, Amisi, Anisha, Samichtha, Dayana, peregrina, Pawan, Enock, Mugisha, Andres, Syriene, Neheraika, Therese, Ngazia, Hafsah, Amma, Awa, Rojina, Isha, Ankita, Penda, and Zahraa, all belong.

I belong.

You belong.

We all  belong.

But it doesn’t always feel that way.

I have a longing for belonging.

We, the artists, belong on our scaffolding.

Painting what we have longed for

Right here, right now! 

We have a longing for belonging. 

Our brushes long for fresh paint. 

Our colors are bright and excite. 

Our mural is a statement of belonging. 

Our artists Sam, Sophie, leo, Idrissa, Corine, Makeda, and A, all belong

I belong.

You belong.

We all belong.

But it doesn’t always feel that way.

I have a longing for belonging.

The faces on our wall

reflecting the long struggle,

Have a longing for belonging.

Their faces shine in my eyes.

Their words inspire me when I read.

Their spirit has a longing for belonging.

My inspiration Amanda, Nikki, Joy, and James all belong.

I belong.

You belong.

We all belong.

And, it is beginning to feel that way.

So, remove your long face and place the mile in your smile!

For we all have a longing for belonging.