By Ningreichon Tungshang | EMN
When life was breathed
Hope and dignity was weaved
Thy who gave us freedom
Gave us land we now protect,
With our lives and history
So that our stories and streams will be free
And our minds and spirit un-oppressed
Our ancestors taught us land is sacred
And gave us their songs
That binds us
Our journey is long
Our manna is running short
But the harvest is nigh
For us to greet the memory of them,
who gave us the elements;
Of life and dignity of struggle
Urra Uvie! Urra Uvie
March to the shore
Where the salt of life
Will be known by its light
and shadows shall roam no more
when all shall toil and rest
and know what peace is
That,
Our fathers and brothers be freed from shame
Our mothers and sisters mourn without regrets
Our children cry free from fear
For the land was given
To protect us, yes to protect us
In the beginning
When life was breathed
When hope and dignity was weaved!
(Ningreichon Tungshang is a human rights activist and a mother of three children.)
