Civil Rights

My daughter is breaking up, is sure she wants to be free.
A young man so tall he’s toppling.
He tried to change, they made a son.
He championed the cause. Civil rights.

A young man so tall he’s toppling.
His heart Birmingham where the young girls got bombed,
He championed the cause, civil rights, tried to change.
They made a life, kitchen floor colored orange.

His heart Birmingham where the church got bombed.
I’m not taking sides. He tried and was tried.
They made a life, eggplant paint over orange.
My daughter is thin, half wind and half smile.

I’m not taking sides. He tried and was tired.
After she chose, choice and sweet.
My daughter is not mine, half wind and half smile.
After Nepal and the brushes with death on the bus.

After she chose and she cried, choice is sweet.
After she grand mothered me.
After Nepal I’m out in the minefields weeping for the amputees.
My dagger my daughter, men give her offerings.

After she grand mothered me
I try to live in the Let it be.
My dagger, my daughter, men give her offerings.
I’m not taking sides. The boy turns each stick into guns.

I’ve tried to live in the Let it be.
He tried to change, they made a son.
I’m not taking sides. Each stick is a gun.
My daughter is breaking up, is sure she’ll be free.