I asked a man, a time ago, what did he think of this? He said this, oh, this what? What this? and when I gestured all around he told me what life is. He said this here, this life, it is. A freedom’s dream, and old man’s kiss. This life we live, this country here, has got us tied up with notched ear. We work all day, we work all night, for a fatter man and his fat wife. We say freedom, equal true and true. Then ask me why I bow to you. A court of men, white rich not poor, make laws and things we all abhor. They are equal men, a-stood pedestals of gold, and we free men who the laws do hold. We left one king to appoint our own. And place him on a new-made throne. And yes, our land is pretty now but one day it will all be town. We hurt each other, maim and kill. And preach of peace up on the hill. We think ourselves high when stupid and low. We’ve given up knowledge for money and show. So, he said, what do you dare think of that? But I could not have spoken for his speech had me trapped.
Rain splattered the windshield, thudding on the top of the car. Heat blasted from the vents, overpowering the sound of the radio and fogging up the windows. I squinted, trying to see past the reach of the headlights and into the darkness beyond. It was slow going and I expected a long trip ahead of me before I reached my destination. The glimmering lights of a passing car momentarily blinded me and when I looked back a gray shape had emerged from the rain, waiving frantically. I slammed on the brakes and felt the car slide on the slick roads. The shape dove out of the way as I slip past and bumped along on the grass till I stopped. My panic held me in place for several seconds as the adrenaline faded from my system. But I still jumped when a knock sounded on the passenger window. My panic rose again, expecting some creep or a murderer or a monster to be standing on the other side. Who knows, out in the middle of nowhere like this, I could have run into anyone. So I was not expecting ...
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