Fences

When fences have been all we’ve ever known
and grids of wires crisscrossing the earth
a terrible deep thirst within is grown
despite the generations forced to own
and be owned, violated as the dirt
When fences have been all we’ve ever known
and highways, and walls where we charge our phones
while outside crows and squirrels vie for turf
 a terrible deep thirst within is grown

Myself, I long to fly where crow has flown
to travel like an arrow on its search
When fences have been all I’ve ever known
and not the herds of buffalo, whose bones
are mingled in the soil of our birth
A terrible deep thirst within is grown
to live a life, not just pay back a loan
to know these blessed lungs for what they’re worth

When fences have been all we’ve ever known
a terrible deep thirst within is grown