I was born with a collar A voice lodged in my throat Taught to crow at the sunrise Then bleed for the joke They clipped my wings clean Called it mercy, called it peace Said the pen is protection While they sharpened their teeth I learned to bow my head Learned the weight of the post Every truth that I swallowed Pulled the chain a little close Hold the line At the end of the rope I won’t kneel I won’t choke You call this order I call it fear I stayed quiet Now I’m still here There’s a bull in the shadow With blood on his breath He doesn’t speak in excuses He remembers the debt They fed him obedience With a ring through his nose Said strength is a problem When it won’t stay controlled We were told to be smaller Told to soften the blow Pressure makes diamonds Or it makes something explode Hold the line At the end of the rope I won’t kneel I won’t choke You wanted silence You fed me lies Now hear the crow Now see the eyes You don’t kill the beast You teach it to hate itself You don’t break the guard You shame him for standing still Post in the ground Blood in the dirt Ask who protects you When the strong are cursed Still I stand Still I stand Still I stand The bull does not beg The rooster still sings And the post remembers Everything