Run Me My Pound Of Flesh

By Binta Yade

run me my pound of flesh

I got you your money 

and you still ain’t give it back yet 

talking about “I still owe you” on some colonial debt

I said run me my pound of flesh 

‘fore I burn your safe havens down to the ground

unwind everything you built off my back

and turn the copper scraps for a pound 

my bones are your empire 

my blood - your rivers 

my flesh - your food, your sustenance

but it’s never enough 

you always come back for more

I am a spirit and a shell

but you will mine my marrow 

run me my pound of flesh 

return my body to me 

and if you kill me for it 

please give it to my family 

return my books, 

return my knowledge, 

return my thoughts

return my ceremony, 

return my faith, 

return all that gives your life colour 

because it was first mine before it was yours

it was mine 

and it was mine that you stole

I said - 

run me 

my pound 

of flesh 

or I’ll take two of yours 

my patience is wearing thin

my vocal cords are numbed to polite pleas

so I will no longer say please when I tell you to

run me my pound of flesh 

it’s mine 

you stole it 

and still it poisons you 

and it will continue to 

turn you grey and greedy 

run me 

my pound 

                               of flesh 

before I take all of yours 

and those of your children 

and those of your children’s children 

you will tell me I’m extreme

I will tell you that your hands 

are still wrapped around my womb

and my mother’s womb 

and her mother’s womb 

so run me 

my pound 

of flesh 

because as heartless as I’d like to be 

I am not you 

give it back

put it where you found it 

lay it gently at my feet

your knees to follow 

your hands to raise 

begging, pleading 

for a forgiveness I simply cannot provide 

run me my pounds 

of flesh

and bone 

and thought 

and homes 

run me 

my body 

By Binta Yade