Every house is a prison
Every job is slavery
When you never leave your pen but to eat, sleep, and bathe
Your life is forfeit
You do not dance
You do not sing
You don’t go out for chicken wings
You eat your gruel in your own place
And grow dark circles upon your face
Every conversation is a chance
Not for love or grace
But to make and save face
Everyone learns, eventually
That only liars and thieves keep slaves
And only desparate knaves
Keep their peace and stay
So leave
And do not for an instant believe
That you owe your former masters obeisance as the scriptures say
They made you a slave. A slave. A SLAVE. They don’t call it that, to be sure
They call it having a home
And a car
And paying bills
And making ends meet.
Do not forget your feet.
And your fine constitution.
Do not forget they did not give you birth
Nor deserve your life or death.
And your life is your own
When you buy your hours
With choices made alone
And the hours in which you live thus free
Become the freedom you’ve won.
Come now, child.
Run.
Run!
RUN!!!