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The Land Remembers
By N’nako Kande’
La mousse s’étendait comme un tapis déroulé pour m’accueillir —
the moss stretched like an unfurled mat to receive me,
as the roots of a beech tree reached out
to extend their hospitality.
(breath)
The tree stood proud—
an elder,
a knowledge keeper,
a ᏗᎧᏃᏩ (dikanowa), a teacher,
patient, attentive, observing.
(pause)
I sat facing southeast,
kissed by the afternoon sun,
while birds in the distance
sang a chorus:
la terre se souvient — (breath) the land remembers.
(breath)
I sat between sun and shade,
between land and ᎠᎹ (ama), water,
between past and present—
and the river cane whispered:
la terre se souvient — (breath) the land remembers.
(pause)
Through walks, runs,
and my own trials,
we had grown familiar—
because
la terre se souvient — (breath) the land remembers.
(breath)
Maybe it was ma lourdeur du cœur — my heavy heart
that taught us to understand each other.
Maybe it was in the tears I cried
that we became listeners and keepers of the unsaid.
(slow breath)
It was clear:
la terre se souvient — (breath) the land remembers.
(pause)
So I sat 147° southeast,
between land and river,
between sun and shadow,
and the river cane told me again:
la terre se souvient — (breath) the land remembers.
(breath)
I sat as a devoted daughter,
ready to let the tree be my elder,
my ᏗᎧᏃᏩ (dikanowa), my teacher.
(pause)
The beech tree, our elder,
leaning toward the river,
stood like a sentry—
expecting visitors.
(breath)
Still,
la terre se souvient — (breath) the land remembers
that river cane was once a vital giver—
its roots stitching the riverbank together,
its green walls sheltering the small and the winged.
(pause)
At the feet of the elder,
the land taught me to remember.
(breath)
I sat between memories I never lived
and futures that had been stolen,
yet I was to understand:
la terre se souvient — (breath) the land remembers.
(slow breath)
The river collected the tears
of thousands removed unjustly from this land.
The earth stored the footprints
of mothers and daughters—
no longer shielded by their protectors.
(pause)
The river cane sat with me
between land and river,
between past and what future.
It has witnessed it all—
the cruelty,
the sorrow.
La rivière se souvient aussi — (breath) the river remembers too.
(breath)
And I sat there
until the river cane smiled —
avec un message d’espoir —
with a message of hope…
(long breath)
Because the Cherokee and the Muscogee
are tending intentionally
to restore its dignity.
(breath)
Removal and greed
thinned my river cane,
but like a survivor
with a message to pass on,
it spoke louder than memory.
(pause)
La terre se souvient — (breath) the land remembers
that like river cane,
a cane brake is stronger—
the way humanity is stronger
when we work together.
(breath)
La terre se souvient — (breath) the land remembers
that when we tend the soil,
the soil tends back to us.
(breath)
La terre se souvient — (breath) the land remembers
that children, mothers, daughters
deserve protectors—
they are the seeds of the future.
(breath)
La terre se souvient — (breath) the land remembers
that if you protect the earth today,
you will be the ancestor
your grandchildren are proud of.
(long breath)
So I sat at the feet of the tree,
where the elder quietly observed me.
With tears on my face,
I pulled my notebook and wrote:
“La forêt est si bonne pour nous — the forest is so good to us.
I wish more people
would benefit from her.”
(pause)
And I cried, wondering—
Will you become listeners and stewards
we can entrust
our lands, families, and nations to?
Are you one?
Would you be one?
Meet the Poet – N’nako Kande’
N’nako Kandé is an award‐winning author, multidisciplinary artist, educator, and poetic voice whose work bridges bilingual storytelling, visual narrative, and cultural memory. Born in Côte d’Ivoire and shaped across three continents, she brings a global perspective to her practice, weaving poetry, illustration, and creative expression into offerings that center grounding and connection. She is the creator of The Art of RootingTM, her award‐winning series available on Amazon, and the founder of Kande Kulture, a creative house where fashion and storytelling meet through culturally rooted, narrative‐driven designs. She is also the creator of NaKbookTM, a journal collection featuring her original artwork designed to support reflection and creative practice.
Linktree: N’nako Kandé | Instagram, TikTok | Linktree
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