i will not sell myself
into the cloning ranks of glorified slave
no, i will not
i will not slave in office, factory, mill, nor school
no i will not observe that rule
with those whose fingers falter on the latch they will not lift
no, i will not wrap myself in payslips
where once would have been chains
no i will never save

i will not place myself
into the mirrored mould of petrified slave
no, i will not
i will not slave for office, title, praise, nor fame
no i will never play that game
with those whose courage cracks at the key they will not turn
no, i will not trap myself in labels
where once would have been chains
no i will not dig my early grave

i will not fester in assumption, concept, myth or fact
i will not accept that rack
with those whose hearts fail them in the life they do not live
no, i will not strap myself in fables
where once would have been chains
i will not behave

1978
northumbria