WHAT IS LEFT?Assata ShakurAFTER THE BARS AND THE GATES AND THE DEGRADATIONWHAT IS LEFT?AFTER THE LOCK INS AND THE LOCK OUTS AND THE LOCK UPSWHAT IS LEFT?I MEAN, AFTER THE CHAINS THAT GET ENTANGLED IN THE GREY OF ONE'S MATTERAFTER THE BARS THAT GET STUCK IN THE HEARTS OF MEN AND WOMENWHAT IS LEFT?AFTER THE TEARS AND DISAPPOINTMENTSAFTER THE LONELY ISOLATIONAFTER THE CUT WRIST AND THE HEAVY NOOSEWHAT IS LEFT?I MEAN, LIKE, AFTER THE COMMISSARY KISSESAND THE GET-YOUR-SHIT-OFF-BLUESAFTER THE HUSTLER HAS BEEN HUSTLEDWHAT IS LEFT?AFTER THE SAD FUTILE MANEUVERSAFTER THE SHRILL AND BARREN LAUGHTERAFTER THE CONTRABAND EMOTIONSWHAT IS LEFT?AFTER THE MURDERBURGERS AND THE COON SQUADS AND THE TEAR GASAFTER THE BULLS AND THE BULLPENS AND THE BULLSHITWHAT IS LEFT?I MEAN LIKE, AFTER YOU KNOW THAT GOD CANT BE TRUSTEDAFTER YOU KNOW THAT THE SHRINK IS A PUSHERTHAT THE WORD IS A WHIP, AND THE BADGE IS A BULLETWHAT IS LEFT?AFTER YOU KNOW THAT THE DEAD ARE STILL WALKINGAFTER YOU REALIZE THAT SILENCE IS TALKINGTHAT OUTSIDE AND INSIDE ARE JUST AN ILLUSIONWHAT IS LEFT?I MEAN, LIKE, WHERE IS THE SUN?WHERE ARE HER ARMS AND WHERE ARE HER KISSES?THERE ARE LIP PRINTS ON MY PILLOWI AM SEARCHINGWHAT IS LEFT?I MEAN, LIKE, NOTHING IS STANDSTILL AND NOTHING IS ABSTRACTTHE WING OF A BUTTERFLY CANT TAKE FLIGHTTHE FOOT ON MY NECK IS A PART OF A BODYTHE SONG THAT I SING IS A PART OF AN ECHOWHAT IS LEFT?I MEAN, LIKE, LOVE IS SPECIFICIS MY MIND A MACHINE GUN?IS MY HEART A HACKSAW?CAN I MAKE FREEDOM REAL? YEAH,WHAT IS LEFT?I AM AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF A LOWER-ARCHYI AM IN LOVE WITH LOSERS AND LAUGHTERI AM IN LOVE WITH FREEDOM AND CHILDRENLOVE IS MY SWORD AND TRUTH IS MY COMPASSWHAT IS LEFT?
Assata Shakur/Joanne Chesimard; courtesy of Assata Shakur Defense Committee.