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

"King JaJa won't leff 'Becca 'lone, What 'Becca got is all she own" Lyrics to Barbadian folk song about 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.