MANACLES AND CHAINS

Bodies withering in ship holds,
Manacles and chains.
Bibles and baptisms for the babes,
Manacles and chains.
Bloated bodies breaking wind,
Bloated bodies making deals,
Bloated bodies carrying seeds,
Manacles and chains.

Small bodies living their dreams,
Small bodies buying lies,
Small bodies dying right,
Manacles and chains.
English and maths for the sir,
Manacles and chains.
Cigarettes and Hennessy for the soul,
Manacles and chains.

Visa lotteries and desert crossings,
Manacles and chains.
Presidents and stolen promises,
Manacles and chains.
Broken bodies on a praying pew,
Broken bodies making the evening news,
Broken bodies trolling broken bodies,
Manacles and chains.

Strong bodies carrying their cross,
Strong bodies watering their beds,
Strong bodies denying the truth,
Manacles and chains.
Little girls selling flesh,
Manacles and chains.
Big preachers stilling light,
Manacles and chains.

Little boys snorting coke,
Manacles and chains.
Bruised women wearing rings,
Manacles and chains.
Big bodies surfing seas,
Big bodies seeking home,
Big bodies bleeding bodies,
Manacles and chains.

Beautiful bodies strutting with pride,
Beautiful bodies augmenting beauty,
Beautiful bodies shy and innocent,
Manacles and chains.
Little men rushing to work,
Manacles and chains.
Little women fighting in suits and skirts,
Manacles and chains.

Bodies broken, bodies strong,
Bodies small and bodies big,
Bodies beautiful, bodies bloated
With the sweetness of life,
All in manacles and chains.

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_{Unsplash: Kewei Hu}

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I don't know what I have written here. I have not been able to write for days. Each time I start but it tastes bitter on my tongue.

©warpedpoetic, 2019.