Zack de la Rocha is best known as vocalist and lyricist for the bands Rage Against the Machine and One Day As A Lion.
He is also a committed political and social activist. In recent months Zack has been profoundly affected by the Occupy Movement and the brave protests taking place across the globe. These events have inspired Zack to write the below poem to express his feelings and support.
“This poem is dedicated to the Occupy movement whose courage is changing the world. Stay Strong. We are winning.” — Zack de la Rocha
The beginning spills through city veins
Into the arteries
And under powers poison clouds
We move like the shadows
Through the alley ways
Through nightmares bought and sold as dreams
Through barren factories
Through boarded schools
Through rotting fields
Through the burning doors of the past
Through imaginations exploding
To break the curfews in our minds
Our actions awaken dreams of actions multiplied
A restless fury
Once buried like burning embers
Left alone to smolder
But together stacked under the walls of a dying order
All sparks are counted
Calloused hands raised in silence
Over the bonfire of hope unincorporated
It’s flame restores tomorrows meaning
Across the graveyards of hollow promises
As gold dipped vultures pick at what is left of our denial
And the youngest among us
Stare at us stoned like eyes determined
And say
Death for us may come early
Cause dignity has no price
At the corner of now and nowhere
Anywhere
Everywhere
Tomorrow is calling
Tomorrow is calling
Do not be afraid