DON’T RUN
Can’t you hear me
screaming,
Don’t run!
Above the deafening
sounds of screeching sirens
Don’t run!
All they want is an
excuse
So they won’t have to
turn you loose.
Don’t run!
Drop the phone;
they’ll swear it’s a gun.
When you’re dead it can’t
be undone.
You’re not on the lamb
Show them your hands.
Who’s gonna raise your
son, the child that carries your name?
His mom will do the
best she can but
She can’t teach him to
be a man.
Don’t run!
The child support you
didn’t pay
can’t be the death of
you; no way.
I know that you are in
arrears
but you need to tune
your ears
and hear me when I plead,
Don’t run!
That minute bit of
weed is no more than just a seed.
It’s a class C
misdemeanor,
Probation and a fine.
You don’t have any priors so you
probably won’t do time.
Stop running!
Lay down on the ground.
I hear the sound of the Negro hounds.
The rhythmic patting of paws to pavement
Pat, pat, pat a pat pat
No Harrett Tubman in this space to lead you to a safer place.
They’re listening for that one command
To rip your legs, your feet, your hands
Get him, tear him limb from limb!
Their teeth are bared, the outlook’s grim
So,
Don’t run!
Your mother stands there shedding tears,
For what? One failure to appear?
X marks the spot on the evening news,
All you see is a pair of shoes.
They’ll tell us justice was being served
“Another black man got what he deserved”
“Don’t run!”
There’ll be a mock investigation, maybe a march in the street.
They’ll sing “we shall overcome”, but we won’t.
So don’t run!
Bullet holes in the back.
The police shot him twice
Don’t ever forget that’s how we pay the price.
The punishment doesn’t fit the crime so I’m begging you
Stop in time!
Stop, drop, even roll if you must,
But whatever you do,
Don’t run!
Running will not save your life.
Running will make you lose it.
And I don’t want to
see you go out like that.
