13 Years A Slave - A Poem

Dedicated to the struggle of those who feel they have no option. Do not ever lose faith in yourself and your God within.

When ya ankle deep in it and you won’t admit

You slide into

13 years a slave

Till the scratch on ya back is now a mile-wide crack

And you’re

13 years a slave

Go on believing

Never mind what you’re seeing

That you’re

13 years a slave

Get out cos you can

Had a chance

Shoulda Ran

From 13 years a slave

Seems I made the same mistake

As my grandma’s momma’s momma. Take

their fluff for my gold today

And let my peace slip away

They tried to keep me faded,

Keep me jaded, and low graded

So when I reclaimed my soul

Found it less than whole and full of holes

Where they poked and poked

Not knowing they stoked and woke

A savage no longer still

And finding the will

Power to defy those who would question the foundation

The work of my ancestral nation

For your dirty forward

Coward!

Shout outs to the Ancestors for real!

If not for y’all my soul would’ve been an easy steal

‘cos

When ya ankle deep in it and you won’t admit

You slide into

13 years a slave

Till the scratch on ya back is now a mile-wide crack

And you’re

13 years a slave

Go on believing

Never mind what you’re seeing

That you’re

13 years a slave

Get out cos you can

Had a chance

Shoulda Ran

From 13 years a slave

So I said I’m done

No more fun

For you

Like to push buttons, then that’s all I’ll do

A timeless tug between good n evil

You play God, I’ll play your devil

First thing I did was lose the grin

See me, Don’t assume I’m part of that sin

Cover myself as I pass

So the puppet master can’t see my ass.

Hold On!

I wrote it all down, so no matter how you twist and you turn

Your own language gives you the burn

I clicked record, so I got you on record

because I saw you trying to create discord

When ya ankle deep in it and you won’t admit

You slide into

13 years a slave

Till the scratch on ya back is now a mile-wide crack

And you’re

13 years a slave

Go on believing

Never mind what you’re seeing

That you’re

13 years a slave

Get out cos you can

Had a chance

Shoulda Ran

From 13 years a slave

Can’t believe I lasted so long

Didn’t know I was ever so strong

Stronger than the stink of your pie

Your sourfly, your intricate lie

Stronger than your articulate fluff

When it got rough I got tough

And when it got dread I got red

You’d rather see us dead instead

Wiseman tell me, “Between the two,

Man and centipede, who frighten for who?”

Still, It was hard watching friends fall

Dead, weight gone, Nerves drawn to all,

Strange emptiness in the head eyes and chest

Watching the evil thrive in that mess

See

When ya ankle deep in it and you won’t admit

You slide into

13 years a slave

Till the scratch on ya back is now a mile-wide crack

And you’re

13 years a slave

Go on believing

Never mind what you’re seeing

That you’re

13 years a slave

Get out cos you can

Had a chance

Shoulda Ran

From 13 years a slave

Rachel Pilgrim Polgreen

Couldn’t take no more that’s for sure

Not of a leaderless coup, nothing secure

Not of a cycle going nowhere

Not of a place where the only thing clear

Was that all the slaves were walking blind

Thought I was going clear out my mind

But just when you think you’re gonna die lost

Here comes the season of the killing frost

Hell freezes over, and the bell rings

Rug pulled from under the The fat lady as she sings

Bombs away! Then her sh!t hit the fan

Night catches day, God shows magnificent form,

Rattling chains and cages

Waging war for the ages

Lost ones will cower in fear

Not you

Listen carefully and hear

Be true

Look into your eye, face the God in you

Listen, hear, feel and do

Smile again and suffer no more

Look no further, you are the door

For

When ya ankle deep in it and you won’t admit

You slide into

13 years a slave

Till the scratch on ya back is now a mile-wide crack

And you’re

13 years a slave

Go on believing

Never mind what you’re seeing

That you’re

13 years a slave

Get out cos you can

Had a chance

Shoulda Ran

From 13 years a slave

King Jaja of Opobo

I’ve learned and no mistakes this time around

Beat your ass first and cut your sh!t to the ground

Stay far with the lies and deceit

Crafted distractions and threats of defeat

Will only piss me off,

You do not want me to morph

Into that "b!tch from hell"

That you claim to know so well

So bring ya nasty game if ya dare

I see the place for your face and I have no fear

Cos it’s only

When ya ankle deep in it and you won’t admit

You slide into

13 years a slave

Till the scratch on ya back is now a mile-wide crack

And you’re

13 years a slave

Go on believing

Never mind what you’re seeing

That you’re

13 years a slave

Get out cos you can

Had a chance

Shoulda Ran

From 13 years a slave

© 2021 Toni Newton

Comments

Toni Newton (author) from Barbados, W.I. on March 08, 2021:

Thanks guys! Appreciate the comments. I'm still experimenting I think...just writing about anything that threatens to repeat itself and take up space in my head. My brain feels tired...Lockdown is a good time to flush and fast the system. I have to apologize...finding the time to read AND write is kinda difficult for me. Can't stay caught up on here and manage this "shifting of life's gears", so I'm still working on establishing a rhythm and keeping my medi straight, and I mean to finish this collection of pieces. Y'all are seriously inspiring...Thank You very much. We're back off grid this afternoon for a few days, but I will try to check in when I can do so again. Y'all stay safe and blessed

James C Moore from Joliet, IL on March 08, 2021:

This work has a certain rhythm to it. It's a somewhat musical piece.

John Hansen from Queensland Australia on March 07, 2021:

A really powerful poem that offers a sense of empowerment. I can see it being a great rap song. Great job, Toni.