But This Isn’t El Salvador/Butler Honoring

Reading poetry from Central America
After talking with my Brother
Suddenly remembering how they kill
Couldn't really say it straight before
They told me you were dead
I died
They told me your mother was dead
I died again
They told me the kids were dead
I died with each name

Fire
The government said accident
They lied
Duck Valley my El Salvador
Our last kiss was our last goodbye
They came for you in Winters night
Winters wind wailed in mourning
Government people searched for days
Scene of crime digging through ashes
Looking for body parts
And disturbing evidence
We buried you all in a large grave
While a blizzard covered us
In a blanket of snow
How it stormed
Terrible pain in land of the free

Some ones should have noticed
Fewer women laughing
Some ones should have noticed
Fewer children growing up
But this isn't El Salvador

Warm strong willed woman
I still have memories you gave me
Maybe if we recognized peasant eyes
Maybe if me recognized plantation lies
Archbishop Romero would have nothing
On you

Trying not to cry how will I ever stop
Ever see a wounded lion try hiding pain
Watch out it doesn't work
But this isn't El Salvador

At times
I feel every embrace we shared
At times
Every tender moment still living
Met a Sandinista who touched my cheek
Kind of like you used to
Said to me you are one of us
But this isn't El Salvador

Gentle Woman
Natural mother natural world
Some people
Won't comprehend what happens
Who wants realities cluttered
By acts of war
Have to keep a lot inside at times
Not offending people with words
They don't want to see pictures of
But this isn't El Salvador

Some people told me
I'm strong to survive
I'm not strong I'm not weak
No morality no right no wrong
One tear at a time I fall I rise
But this isn't El Salvador

You loved your people
In the face of the American Dream
Fry bread and tortillas
Some wars are the same
Who thinks Wounded Knee and Sand Creek
Happen only in history books
Is this not history we live and die?
But this isn't El Salvador

The first look you gave me
Your eyes spoke your spirit your heart
My heart our heart
There was no other way
Some ones say
We're with you Brother
We understand what's been done
Some ones say
But this isn't El Salvador
This is America
Yes I know

Almost two thousand seasons
We fall we rise
We fall we rise