A Black Hand Reaches Over the Sun

Fleeing from the battle, I stagger through the woods with a limp, stealing myself away Night descends as I stumble through thickets, hoping to stay alive In the twilight I find a clearing and the remains of some poor runaway I will spare you the details of the scene that I found The treatment of the body was meant to send a message Of what will happen to those who seek their freedom I stagger away before falling and vomiting Sun dips behind trees????? I know this tragedy is repeated across the nation These heinous acts benefit me, reenforcing white supremacy It sickens me to know that my life is built on others blood and pain What can I do to give back what I have received from those forced to give? Convince the whites you know of their complicity Now listen, listen to cries for freedom to know what you must do Give material support to those who seek their freedom I’m stirred from my thoughts by hooves of horses and shouts of men Unclear if they’re rebels or militia I must steal away as night falls The world looks as if in dreams I feel no more pain from my leg What is that hanging from a tree? The sight shakes me from my daze, the body hanging there I feel the fear rise, I turn and sprint away I walk through the forest at night I stumble through the forest at night I see a commotion, a group of men ahead I stumble to see the sheriff and his posse They beat a black man, a noose around his neck Now I see myself and a bloody future I can’t sit by and watch like I have before Barely breathing as I hide in shadows of moonlight I steal myself to fight and cast my fear aside I run with pistols drawn and take them by surprise My gun to the sheriff’s face, I watch that bastard die The sheriff’s face disappears in red mist, I fall with his body to the ground His posse is on me before I can move, clubbing and beating me Darkness creeps in my vision I would be dead if not for the band of rebels nearby who heard the screams I still don’t know what became of the man targeted by the posse I see a black hand reaching over the sun (My friend, you must open your eyes)