The Door of No Return

by Kwame Alexander

No more dreaming. Is THIS world not enough?

I am not speaking of your body, but of your mind. There is much responsibility with knowing, Grandson.

Kofi, we dream to heal our memory or to face the unimaginable truth. Dreams are hints from the beyond, but they can also be warnings.

Kofi, he is your family. Even if you win, you will lose.

We are each branches of the same tree. It does not matter that we go in different directions. The roots are one.

It is not the crown that sits atop a man that makes him big. It is what is inside, he says, tapping the left side of his chest. Know your heart, Grandson.

Their eyes covet the whole earth and they see us as shadows to step on.

There will come a time when you will tell these stories to the ones who come after you… and they will listen like you listen to me… and they will learn… as you must learn now… until the lions tell their side of the story, the tale of the hunt will always celebrate the hunter… Do you understand this, Kofi?

At the end of the tunnel is an archway of daylight is a curved opening is an entrance to some unknown. A door of no return.

The sun shines on those who stand up for themselves, before it shines on those who kneel to cowardice.

No one can kidnap your beliefs, if you believe them with every bone of your body. No one can shackle your will, Kofi.

I will die before I let them kill me again.

She turns to me, smiles, says, Do not forget to listen for the beautiful things, Kofi, drops the blade, spreads each arm out wide, like she is holding on to the world. Then she jumps.