[Interlude: R.A. Brown]

What a time to be alive

If I haven't before understood that time is relative

Well, I understand it now

Understand that less profound and now is all that exist

We no longer recognize one another in these different masks

No longer feel threatened by a covered face even if it's black

And yes, I remember a time before this

Before COVID-19 and livid 24/7

I remember complacency shrouded in normalcy

And ignorance to bliss, one seeks

I was Black before and now it appears that everyone sees me

Before, prayer had me on my knees

We all seeing the dark now

When we've been seen through on ghost and chalk outlines

Seemingly born laying down

But I've always stood in love's transparency

Always been the magic in black

Always the night that brings the stars

Always the breath in life's lungs

Living life while I'm alive, now look at where we are

We're alive just tryna live

Tryna do it one more time and give it one more chance

Born into fear and dying by the hands of someone on their phone or in their privilege

'Cause I walk the land and stood

I took a stand

And if I haven't understood before that these lessons hold with them gifts

As hard as it is to comprehend hate

It may be hard to understand this, but we must give

Give ourselves a break

Give to your life

Give to you and yours

Love is something they can't take

Be in love's transparency

We can't take this pain with us

All we have is love

And it ain't on the other cheek

Meek ain't never met weak

What a time to be in love

For beyond this life and certainly beyond time, love

Love is what will save us from it all

And it's love that will deliver us to ourselves