Roots

Wade in the water.

Wade in the water children

Wade, in the water.

God is gonna trouble the 

Water that you came over on.

Storms will plague the ship that ships you to death.

As you get tossed to and fro, feel the chains restricting you from fighting back.

Get used to falling, you won't be able to support yourself.

Drink the tears you cry as thats the freshest water you'll drink.

The salt water and piss will only diminish your value even more.

You ran out of tears somewhere on the ocean.

All you know is that it was after you were kidnapped from your home 

And before you saw your dead baby sister get thrown over bored to stop the sickness.

At the time of arrival, you are the last lineage of the bloodline.

Death is your new family.

Being alone protects you from the pain of losing more of your heritage 

Being alone keeps you from holding on.

The only thing that separates you now are those lashings on your back.

Spread you open like the arms that once held you as a child.

All grown up now.

With each back-breaking wound the price on your head goes down.

Reducing you to the animal you are.

Work the field like a bull.

You're built like one any way.

Let the heat melt away your desire to be free, its not worth it.

Serving Masta' is your purpose.

You hate that your purpose rolls over to your son.

He looks like Africa.

At least how you remember it.

Praying to God never seemed so crucial until now.

“Dear God, Save him. Amen.”

Are all that need to be said 

Because thats the only one of your desires that has a chance of coming to pass.

The past collides with your future as you witness the growth of your boy.

You see your mother in his eyes.

You see your father's strength in his back. 

He can carry the world on them.

Crack Crack Crack Crack Crack Crack

Is his punishment for trying to escape.

He knows the world isn't on the plantation.

Neither is his home.

He searches for it in the stars.

And between the thighs of one of the other slaves.

He wants to treat her like the queens he heard ruled Africa

But all she knows is how to take abuse.

Masta' says the only thing shes good for is sex.

He wants to prove Masta' wrong, but its illegal to get married.

Jumping the broom will have to do.

That doesn't stop her from having mixed babies.

Hate becomes synonymous with white.

He cries for what happened.

She cries for not having her children.

They cry for freedom.

When they finally have their own child,

A glimmer of joy is reinstated.

That's a good name, Joy.

But only for 16 years.

On the seventeenth she's sold into her destiny.

Happiness is a trickster and a mistake.

It steals Joy.

She sold for a high price.

Joy's parents were proud.

She thinks about them while cotton tattoos her flesh.

She thinks about them even more as she follows in her mother's foot steps.

Her feet pick up speed as she runs through the woods.

She knows home is in the North Star.

If only her dad knew.