Ancestral Voices: A Spoken Word Reflection

They speak to me in the night —
voices older than mountains, carrying the weight of centuries.
They call me to remember.
To rise.
To rebuild.

I am not a Klingon battle cruiser tearing across space,
chasing honour through blood and battle.

I am a wounded spirit learning that
healing, too, is a form of courage.

I am not a Romulan Bird of Prey decloaking on a mission of vengeance.

I am a broken spirit choosing to live —
and learning that peace requires more bravery than war.

Ah — but I…
I am a Federation starship.

I bring:

Peace.
Healing.
Reconciliation.

I am here to rebuild the shattered spirits
of those uprooted from their homeland.

Yes — I who once sailed antiquity,
who built glorious civilizations,
who formed the bedrock of humanity —

now I weep.

Why?

Why am I shipwrecked upon jagged isles
of social, moral, and spiritual decay?

Why is violent crime so rampant
among my young Black men?

Why does my blood
run the streets like water?

Don’t I know I owe it to myself
to become the best I can be?

Don’t I know I cannot blame others
for my current circumstances?

Don’t I realize my ancestors look upon me,
praying that I will go farther than they could —
because I hold opportunities
they never had?

So instead of death-trips on false codes of honour
and confused ideas of manhood…

Should I not honour the memory
and legacy of our ancestors —

and pull this mighty ship
off the rugged reefs
of crime and violence?

There is no reason
this vessel should be sinking today —
not a ship as ancient and majestic as ours.

Ah yes, even great ships sink.
The Titanic — the marvel of her age —
sank on her maiden voyage.

But our ship is built of something stronger:

Resilience.
Peace.
Integrity.
Love.

No iceberg can sink this ship.

So lift up your heads, you ancient gates —
lift them up, you eternal doors —
that the King of Glory may come in.

Let us rebuild this great Black ship.

Let us restore her:

Honour.
Integrity.
Valour.

Let us create a new future
for the Black race —
and for humanity as a whole.

I am Paulos —

Your Chosen Vessel.

Douglas Newton

The Eagle Has Landed
New Horizons to Pursue — New Mountains to Climb