by Seradin Veonne
I see my reflection in the river
not just my face, but thousands of faces
the water remembers, every ancestor
every word spoken
every heart broken
every foot step
every breath
every hum
every remedy and recipe
that filled hungry bellies, quelled fevers
and soothed wounds and weary souls
every prayer and act of faith
like Moses in the rushes, floating toward freedom
every reunion
every drop of blood, sweat and tears dispersed in it
water is life
the river lives in me
it flows through me
my eyes drown as it streams down, clinging to my face
demanding to be released
to be seen
to be witnessed
remembered
revered
honored
it flows through me
carrying information, nourishing my organs, filling my heart
determined to stay alive
come hell or high water
it flows over me
cooling my body, protecting me from the oppressive heat
I yearn for home, like those who came before me
I step into the river
I return to myself
Seradin Veonne is a New York City-born and raised singer-songwriter, poet, youth educator, and lifelong learner whose artistry is deeply rooted in music, culture, and community. She studied Classical and Jazz Voice at Hunter College, where she developed a strong foundation in vocal performance and musical expression.
Seradin began her professional vocal journey as a member of Jazz Vox and later joined Voices of Vision, an organization dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich tradition of the Negro Spiritual. In recent years, she has continued to expand her creative work, performing with various musical ensembles and collaborating as a singer and co-writer of background vocal arrangements with bands including Decibelists and DorianMyx.
Beyond music, Seradin is passionate about cultural education and representation. She is also a member of Your Queens, Inc., the first registered African Royalty character company, where she contributes to celebrating African heritage, history, and identity through storytelling and performance.
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