No Man Is A Slave Poem by Leonard Dabydeen

Bonded like wounded animals
shackled in underground darkness
a slave song plays in minds
of victims beyond retreat
how they dance
to pimps and peddlers
to posture in darkness
to huddle in crowded rooms
how they gyrate in body grief
in sweat and tears
through night and day
all this must end
with folded fists to fight
to slice pitiful penury
that lures this global game
like a Roman battle arena
courage our hope
strength our destiny
no man is a slave
to each we pledge
to be our brother's keeper
to unshackle this bondage.