| Lyrics |
-for lucille clifton
I opened a bank accountwhen I was nine years old
I closed it when I was eighteen
I gave them every penny that I'd savedand they gave my bloodand my urinea numbernow I'm sitting in this waiting roomplaying with the toysand I am here to exercisemy freedom of choice
I passed their handheld signswent through their picket linesthey gathered when they saw me comingthey shouted when they saw me cross
I said why don't you go homejust leave me alone
I'm just another woman lostyou are like fish in the waterwho don't know that they are wetas far as I can tellthe world isn't perfect yethis bored eyes were obsceneon his denim thighs a magazine
I wish he'd never come here with mein fact I wish he'd never come near me
I wish his shoulderwasn't touching mine
I am growing olderwaiting in this linesome of lifes best lessonsare learned at the worst timesunder the fierce flourescentshe offered her hand for me to holdshe offered stability and calmand I was crushing her palmthrough the pinch pull wincingmy smile unconvincingon that sterile battlefield that seesonly casualtiesnever herosmy heart hit absolute zero
Lucille, your voice still sounds in memine was a relatively easy tragedynow the profile of our countrylooks a little less hard nosedbut that picket line persistedand that clinic's since been closedthey keep pounding their fists on realityhoping it will breakbut I don't think there's a one of usleads a life free of mistakes
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