somber sister
this is a strange and bitter fruit
because you taught me to sing
and the rhythm in my heart
and the rhythm in my feet is-

Why are the rainbows
stolen from the sky
and locked up in boxes
yellow, black, red and white
like birds in their cages
beating their wings on the bars
and there’s a song that they’re singing
it’s a word in the world
it’s a word in their hearts

a part hate
I heard a man say
tear apart hate
and I saw hope in his face
a part hate
where the color of love
slips away

Why are the children
carrying guns, not books
drug dealing, not learning
the golden rule
and the idea of freedom
not just some castle
in the sky
haunted by white-sheeted ghouls
filled with hate me
and hate you
and proud of it too

a part hate
heard a woman saying
tear apart hate
and I saw hope in her face
a part hate
where the color of love
slips away

Why are the people
running down the block
rock throwing, not knowing
what else to do
but I’m just a spectator
and I can never know the pain
but when I hear
that whip cracking
I cry out tears of anger
I cry out tears of shame

a part hate
I heard myself say
tear apart hate
and I saw hope in my face
a part hate
where the color of love
slips away…

tear apart hate tear apart hate
tear apart hate tear apart hate
tear apart hate tear apart hate