Being chased by my tail

I was surprised (to say the least)
To see you at my door,
With ten armed guards or maybe more.

You asked about my family tree,
About my lineage
From Them to Me

"Your kinsmen" said you, in the voice of command
"Owned slaves in the past
kept serfs on the land!"

"Reparations must be made,
apologies must be written,
It's time for you to right these wrongs
or else you will be smitten"

Who was I, to disagree?
I said yes right away!
To whom shall I make my amends,
Who has me in their sway?

"The tricky part" you muttered fast,
"What with one thing and another,
it came to pass the slave they owned,
was your Grandma's brother."

And so you said to me
while I scratched my head,
"Either shake yourself by the hand,
Or we'll shoot you dead"

And so I did! Forgave myself, granted this reprieve
And then I had to ask you "Why do you still grieve?"

"Because dear boy" you cried and wept
"This is not all! Not all at all"
You're related to a highwayman,
a tinker and a thief,
A killer,
A dictator,
A robber and a cheat!"

"The sentence is death - harsh but fair
you will agree,
With such a bloodied family tree."

I cried for a jury and I cried for a court,
But you said it was too late.
We judged these crimes a year ago,
You're bound to this by fate.

You hung me on my doorstep,
A warning to the past:

"You're free to become the future -
But don't do it too fast"

Last edited on Tue Jan 23rd, 2007 12:49 am by lostsocks