FOUR HUNDRED YEARS
Ou Gawd hay ur-wa paa
Oh God Hear Our Prayer
Hs ee oak-non-led ur-wa ant-zester
As we acknowledge our ancestors,
Hu er wipp frun da Ma-Da-An
who were ripped from the Mother Land.
Ur-wa ant-zester hu kav aus da pra-sus tee-zing
Our ancestors who gave us the precious teachings
bi wok-zing, az da ka-mu-ti oh-zing ands
by walking as a community holding hands
Ingtu da oshun tu ra-lee dee ba-dee bum sa-fing.
into the ocean to relieve their bodies from suffering.
EE kan bea ur-wa law-zes dat er Ing-flick-de apa aus
We can bear our losses that were inflicted upon us
bi da sus-tim ov x-plu-ta-su ant x-ter-ma-na-sunn.
by the system of exploitation and extermination.
Ur-wa ant-zester uh kav aus da keef ov ceeyong
Our ancestors who gave us the gift of Seeing.
Pees fo-kav aus foo kazing haa-tat tu arb-jick
Please forgive us for getting attached to objects
Ann see-u-wa-shon dat haa o-stra-de ur-wa wu
and situations that have obstructed our view.
Ur-wa ant-zester uh shoo aus hs hay ka-mu-ti,
Our ancestors who showed us, as a community,
dat sa-fing tiz sakun-nacha, dat jui, laav ann so-port kan hee
that Suffering is second-nature, that joy, love, and support can heal.
Ou Gawd pees fo-kay doos uh wa-wige da
Oh God please forgive those who ravaged the
Nay-if Ha-ma-kin In-dens ann tuk Ter-til I-ann fam dem
Native American Indians and took Turtle Island from them
Ur-wa ant-zester uh dem-on-sta-ti dat day er
Our ancestors who demonstrated that they were
stunga ann Grayta dan da ann-wer-ta-ti da in-kou-ta
stronger and Greater than the adversity they encountered.
Ra-som tin Ha-ma-ka hiz ann a-mo-shu-no saan
Racism in America is an emotional chain
dat ee ur bun nin-tu, doo lat dit dee-fon aus
that we were born into, don’t let it define us.
Haz ur-wa lay-higgs ka-ti-u, maa ee cyne
As our lineages continue, may we shine
li da tar en da ky, ann bee da him-bo-dee-mant hov Kace.
like the stars in the sky, and be the embodiment of Grace
La bee jui-foo en an-no-ning ur-wa lie;
Let’s be joyful in honoring our lives;
haz ee ka-tin-u tu am-pou, am-pou-wa ann laf
as we continue to improve, empower and lift
app ur-wa ka-mu-nu-ti
up our communities.
Ou Gawd hay ur-wa paa
Oh God Hear Our Prayer
English & Gullah Language of Pawleys Island, S.C. Dialect
Author: Ralph Steele www.lifetransition.com 505-982-4183
PO Box 9286, Santa Fe, NM 87504
505-982-4183