I've been a slave so many
times.
I've been a slave to
***** and vaginas,
to poverty and the streets.
I've been a slave to opiates
and poetry
brutality and love.

I've been a slave to
the flesh and my addictions,
good intentions galore.
I've been a slave to
beauty and hatred,
passion and desire
the flame
and the
fiery dance with death.
I've been a slave to the
crowd and the pedestal
the morning glory women, and
their spells.
I've been a slave on
the slow ride to hell.

So for the last time,
I'm done with slavery.
Go find a new **** to control.
This rooster is going back to
the barnyard,
chase the horses and hens.
I promise
I will crow at the
freedom-soaked dawn.

Only friend I’ve ever had
Was my dear ole slave dad
He told me once, think about your future
Forget about the south’s criminal past
Cotton pickin’ and turnin’ plow, on a plantation field
He never once saw the money that it did yield
Big boss said, he almost cleared the books
Plantation bosses are the real crooks
Daddy gave them a fistful, got a spoonful in return.

Abided by the enraging tide

I quietly slept on the smoky side

The red comrades have gone atop

Giving out their silly slop

All those felons to fill their stream

Have built foundations and killed the dream

Their own presumption has long gone wrong

Caught in the fake idle uniform

Allegiance the ruler sways

Yes Sir, the minion obeys

Compliance claims the rotten vile

Dogmas spread through wit and wile

As law’s anything but free ‘n’ streaky

We’re dealt a world too freak ‘n’ creaky

Ideology and politics

Be drowned to hell, I’ll get my kicks

Well I reject all mainstream thought

To the sick dome, I vow my naught

My temper, sure, I will not lose

Over their ludicrous mores and views

The sun realm has fallen to bits

And the starlit sky decays and splits

Their hymns ‘n’ anthems are singing death

The unborn will get no sight and breath

Lewd ancestors ***** our peace

Gofers comply with their caprice

The monster’s head, mad hands unveil

Seals on fire, fight tooth ‘n’ nail

All queens and kings are tarts and drips

Ride the grey mare and kiss her hips

Creeds and priests get us all checked

We’re walking blind and rather wrecked

Wild bears grumble while sharks scoff

To the night cloak the levy pay off

Oh polite masters of all slavery

The loyal moles put up with bravery

Morals concede to this rock insane

Common weal ‘n’ folks on the wane

The river runs ‘n’ dies at the firth

The being in us still longs for birth

Let me tell you and calmly compose

Any violence I definitely oppose

The human is all I’ve ever sought

Clear off my way and twist me not

The farmhand burns the leaves, though the bodies of slaves
Lie at heaven’s impasse in the trees of dying looks, barring them
From peaceful death, the sad emulsified perch of love and heat,
Hung at noon like John Brown untended, bearded of sticky summer,
Heavy-headed swinging noon and the smell of honeysuckle blood,
Fetid day like the coming dirt of graves, the clinging air of disease,
Snake-winding down from the trees with no pleasure of the bitten apple.

I look and there's nothing left,
There's nothing left to be saved.
Because I am yours
I wear my mask
And behave.

I look at me and I see
There's nothing left to be saved
Because you own me,
I laugh it off
I'm your slave,

Yours, in a lost state
I wear my mask and behave
Because you own me
I wear my mask

I’m a *****
who sells himself
for the privilege of food.
Existing in your world
of surface beauty
and splendor,
that’s the only payday
I’ve ever known.

–Ron Gavalik