Art by Makeba Rainey
By Stephanie Lipscomb
A Tribute to Aretha Franklin
My time on earth is done.
What I leave behind must carry on.
The power of my voice is God’s gift, but my choice.
I chose to inspire, to calm and admire.
With the strength of my voice, it became a choice.
To demand respect, think, and rocksteady, where reasons to inspire my people to aim higher.
Knowing a change is gonna come, daydreaming, and something he can feel we’re to calm the spirit so my people could heal.
The power of my voice, the one I used by choice to admire the natural woman the rose that is still a rose.
Women of color to love one another and embrace, and admire, was my true desire.
So now that I’m gone, if you remember one song.
I say a little prayer, because ain’t no way the precious Lord would have allowed me to live with God’s gift of my voice.
That I used by choice.
To leave behind.
How I spent my time.
