The idea of nothing new

Is not true.

The craving for a place to be

Is not true either.

Have I ever been a man?

They ask

Have I ever been?

I wonder.

Lineages.

Ancestry.

Royalty.

I have never been

But a bargain

Does that make me money?

I’ve heard money is power

Does that make me power?

But they ask

Have I ever been free?

Have I ever been?

I mumble.

Scrapping off my skin

I feel chisels freeing me

Does that make me spirit?

I’ve heard spirit is power

Does that make me power?

But they ask

Have I ever been equal?

Have I ever been?

I retort.

They bring me stale balances

They teach me truth.

But the idea of truth is nothing new

I’ve been all lies of it.

Does that make me truth?

I’ve heard truth is power

Does that make me power?

And they ask 

Have I ever been truth?

Have I ever been?

I wail.

Have I ever been a man?

They ask.