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Was born to be a mule, got barn weaned in the August hay Didn’t know ev’ry next day was gon be like my first Labor Day My Louisi-Ana, ebony twin fetter friends told me, I was gon gator cry pray ev’ry next day That I better bray learn to swallow my pain, just like my mama did on my birth day The only promise given to darkie me shy, ‘bout how yoke things gon bigotry be ev’ry next day I was gon corral cry, neigh cry ... rein cry, just like I did the first moment of that first teary day As I grew into a young oxen, and started a-muzzle thinking on my own My first daddy tongue lash taught me: Ev’ry next day, only rebel speak proud when you’re alone So ev’ry now and then, when I go into busy body town to pick up some farm supplies I know I better lower my eyes, when a cotton-skin pass by — Keep my head down! Or ev’ry next day, I’m gon feel like it is my last day I once looked into an old lion’s sad eyes, and saw his hope had died That his ev’ry next day, he a ne’er was gon ev’r feel gazelle alive And I knew willow then, turning over the dirt ev’ry next day was my only labor pay Turning over the dirt ev’ry next day would be my final expense pay Met me a big belly girl, pretty as midnight Said her Massa treated her good, like she was white And I knew sorrow straightaway, that the joy in her ev’ry next day was gon be short and slim Like a prickly cotton stem I secretly read, where the Good Book said: The color of the Sun shines the same on ev’ryone ev’ryday But the pale barrel of a gun, showed me that ain’t what the black smoke say Steel fingers speak with tungsten purity Weary me believe, ev’ry next day be like the first exit womb day Only the pain don’t ev’r pass thru, the tears don’t ev’r go away I’ve learned well this one inescapable thing, at the tethered end of ev’ry next day — The sunrise wages saved of ev’ry next day Be anew sunset spirit death of the born-to-be a slave 11-24-20
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