Wasn’t just racism
that killed brother Floyd,
not just some cop
who was goddamned annoyed.
 
Wasn’t just belligerent training
that tortured brother Floyd,
not just some wackos
with their hearts a void.
 
Wasn’t just the System
with its races and classes,
wasn’t just slavery
with its chains dragging masses.
 
Wasn’t just, wasn’t just,
it wasn’t just!
and everybody knows it--
but this is the end of the Age of Rust.
 
Wasn’t just sadism
that murdered brother Floyd,
wasn’t just a mindless
human droid,
 
the accomplice was fear, fear of the strength
and the gentleness of a big Black man,
a combination so natural
the punks couldn’t understand,
 
because they’re afraid of themselves,
and their own inherent power
so they acted it out
on the man of the sad hour.
 
Wasn’t just, wasn’t just,
it wasn’t just! brother Floyd cowering
and everybody knows it--
for this is the beginning of the Age of Flowering.