OVER THE HORIZON FAR OFF
YOU CAN SEE THE WAVES
DISTORT AN IMAGE
CLOSER AND CLOSER TILL
NO QUESTIONS,
WE'RE BEING SHIPPED
TO A NEW DESTINATION.
THEY GOT US CHAINED
HAND TO HAND,
LEG TO LEG.
NECK TO NECK.
WE SHUFFLE AND SWAY,
FREEDOM SHRINKS IN FEET
AS WE FILL THE BELLY
AT THE FEAST.
THE SUN RISES TO A PRICKLY HEAT
THEN CALMS TO A PURPLE RETREAT
BUT THE RIDE STAYS THE SAME
FOR IT IS NOT ABLE TO ADJUST
HELL TO HIGH WATER
OR ROTTEN TO HIGH COTTON
IT IS WHAT IT IS - DEATH.
WHAT THEY FEED US IS A MYSTERY
I CAN'T STOMACH THE SMELL
FORGET TRYING TO EAT
SO I DRINK THE WATER AND PRAY
SAVE ME FROM THIS DAY
PLEASE,
FOR THIS CONVICTION IS PURE DEPICTION OF WHAT
SOMEONE WANTS ME TO BE,
I AM NEITHER NIGGER
NOR AMERICAN
I AM A VICTIM OF BOTH.
I AM NEITHER SIMPLE NOR SLAVE
FOR I DESCEND FROM KINGS OF OLD.
I AM THAT I AM
WHICH YOU KNOW VERY WELL
AND STILL WAIT TO SEE
FOR I AM THE MANNA IN THE NIGHT FOR THOSE WHO NEED
AND I AM SOUR IN THE MORNING FOR THOSE UP TO NO GOOD,
BITTER TO THE SITTER
AND SWEET TO THE FEET
TILL CIVIL IS UNDERSTOOD
AS I FILL THE GAPS IN THE BELLY
AT THE FEAST
I SEE THE FUTURE
AND I’M BLIND
BECAUSE THE PEOPLE
ARE CORRUPT OUT THEIR MIND
I SEE DEATH
THROUGH AND THROUGH
LIKE MASSACRES JUSTIFY
WHAT YOU DO?
THE GOOD YOU ATTEST
IS KILL MOTIVATED
YOUR GOOD DEEDS BREEDS
MORE HATRED
I SEE HUMAN DEPRIVATION
PERPETUATED BY A FEW
AND I’M HERE TO ATTEST
FOR THOSE YOU SLEW
YET I’M STILL HERE
A SLAVE
WHAT I CAN PROVE
IS ONE THING
WHAT ONE CAN DO
IS ANOTHER
WE, HAVE TO
WE, HAVE TO
WE, HAVE TO
