civilized

you are so lucky i have not killed you yet
i coulda cultivated a hair trigger response
to hair trigger triggers
i didnt

im civilized

if i knew then what i know now
i coulda wiled out top off i go BLAU
cartoon stars round an orbit your head
i didnt do that
im black but im read

im civilized
im civilized

stand up for your rights scrutinized
take a knee for peace & im militant
diligently trying to find some success to express
roll off a bitten tongue to say
the nature of the beast is hydra
imma decapitate daily
pick your own weapon
the might of the pen
the power of the sword
all of them are short straws
in my hand

im civilized
im civilized

showing a mastery of language
standing on a soapbox no anguish
no bullshit shareef u understand me
im ANGRY
but
im civilized

holding
in the belly of the storm
still silent
been quietly praying
a buddha self-immolate
im on fire
im on fire
THIS GIRL IS ON FIRE

some days with ancestral rage
i wanna raze it all down to the ground
i am on fire
kiti pala cha ya ya
NO i dont know what that means
im civilized
thats some cold shit my dad used to say
mum give me the eyes
old man done give me the rest

raze
it all
down
to the ground

with one hand tied behind my back
build a new city

I AM CIVILIZED