WHAT IS LEFT?
AFTER THE BARS AND THE GATES AND THE DEGRADATION
WHAT IS LEFT?
AFTER THE LOCK INS AND THE LOCK OUTS AND THE LOCK UPS
WHAT IS LEFT?
I MEAN, AFTER THE CHAINS THAT GET ENTANGLED IN THE GREY OF ONE'S MATTER
AFTER THE BARS THAT GET STUCK IN THE HEARTS OF MEN AND WOMEN
WHAT IS LEFT?
AFTER THE TEARS AND DISAPPOINTMENTS
AFTER THE LONELY ISOLATION
AFTER THE CUT WRIST AND THE HEAVY NOOSE
WHAT IS LEFT?
I MEAN, LIKE, AFTER THE COMMISSARY KISSES
AND THE GET-YOUR-SHIT-OFF-BLUES
AFTER THE HUSTLER HAS BEEN HUSTLED
WHAT IS LEFT?
AFTER THE SAD FUTILE MANEUVERS
AFTER THE SHRILL AND BARREN LAUGHTER
AFTER THE CONTRABAND EMOTIONS
WHAT IS LEFT?
AFTER THE MURDERBURGERS AND THE COON SQUADS AND THE TEAR CAS
AFTER THE BULLS AND THE BULLPENS AND THE BULLSHIT
WHAT IS LEFT?
I MEAN LIKE, AFTER YOU KNOW THAT GOD CANT BE TRUSTED
AFTER YOU KNOW THAT THE SHRINK IS A PUSHER
THAT THE WORD IS A WHIP, AND THE BADGE IS A BULLET
WHAT IS LEFT?
AFTER YOU KNOW THAT THE DEAD ARE STILL WALKING
AFTER YOU REALIZE THAT SILENCE IS TALKING
THAT OUTSIDE AND INSIDE ARE JUST AN ILLUSION
WHAT IS LEFT?
I MEAN, LIKE, WHERE IS THE SUN?
WHERE ARE HER ARMS AND WHERE ARE HER KISSES?
THERE ARE LIP PRINTS ON MY PILLOW
I AM SEARCHING
WHAT IS LEFT?
I MEAN, LIKE, NOTHING IS STANDSTILL AND NOTHING IS ABSTRACT
THE WING OF A BUTTERFLY CANT TAKE FLIGHT
THE FOOT ON MY NECK IS A PART OF A BODY
THE SONG THAT I SING IS A PART OF AN ECHO
WHAT IS LEFT?
I MEAN, LIKE, LOVE IS SPECIFIC
IS MY MIND A MACHINE GUN?
IS MY HEART A HACKSAW?
CAN I MAKE FREEDOM REAL? YEAH,
WHAT IS LEFT?
I AM AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF A LOWER-ARCHY
I AM IN LOVE WITH LOSERS AND LAUGHTER
I AM IN LOVE WITH FREEDOM AND CHILDREN
LOVE IS MY SWORD AND TRUTH IS MY COMPASS
WHAT IS LEFT?
Assata Shakur/Joanne Chesimard; courtesy of Assata Shakur Defense Committee.