Song of Chains

Clink, clink, clink, clink, clink

Clank, clank, clank, clank, clank

 

There’s a song inside my head

That I’d like to sing:

‘Bout birds flying free

‘Bout lettin’ freedom ring

 

Clink, clink, clink, clink, clink

Clank, clank, clank, clank, clank

 

There’s a song inside my heart

That I’d like to sing:

‘Bout how I once stood tall and straight

When once I was a king

 

Clink, clink, clink, clink, clink

Clank, clank, clank, clank, clank

 

There’s a song deep in my soul

That I wish that I could sing!

‘Bout when I was a warrior

Not some property, not some thing

 

But that clink, clink, clink, clink, clink

And that clank, clank, clank, clank, clank—

That’s the song that’s in my ears:

That’s the sound that them chains make

 

Clink, clink, clink, clink, clink

Clank, clank, clank, clank, clank

 

That’s the song that’s all around

That’s the tune they like to sing:

How they’ll keep me here in bondage

‘Til my death when freedom rings

 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  © ELIZABETH MICHAUD JOHN

 

No Price Too High

She slammed the lid shut and then twisted the lock.

“What you gon’ do now?” he asked her.

“Save it for my grandbaby.”  She caressed the lid, but her eyes were hard, her smile grim. “He gon’ ask me one day, what dat freedom cost.  He gonna ask, and when he do, I’ll show him.”

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  © ELIZABETH MICHAUD JOHN.

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My Statue of Liberty, Part II

This is the second of two poems based on a picture that I received.  See my post “Truth, Lies, Liberty, and The Two Ladies” for more.

 

They be talkin’ about a lady,

She got her hair done up in ‘rows,

But she hold her head up high

‘Cause there’s somethin’ that she knows…

 

They be talkin’ about a lady,

She stand up tall and straight.

The masters, they don’t like her none,

‘Cause she don’t know “her place”.

 

They be talkin’ about a lady,

She got a light up in her hand;

Black folks say it’s like a star

To lead ‘em up out of this land…

 

They be talkin’ about a lady,

She a friend to all us slaves:

She gonna get us out this misery,

We gonna see these end of days.

 

They be talkin’ about a lady,

She standing for us all:

For them who fight for freedom,

For those who gonna fall…

 

They be talkin’ about a lady,

She broke them shackles at her feet!

She hold ‘em high up in the air,

It be a sign of victory.

 

They be talkin’ about a lady,

She made of stone up on the slope;

They say her name be Liberty

And she here to give us hope.

COPYRIGHT 2012 © ELIZABETH MICHAUD JOHN.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED