Ruth Woldemichael
I wrote “Simon Says” to expose the harms of capitalism against Black and Brown bodies, specifically in the American education and prison systems. “1492 Blues” was written about the truths of colonialism kept out of Eurocentric curriculums. Through both of these poems, I trope on injustices by manipulating our childhood games and hymns. In my work, I hope to give perspective through the poetic art of storytelling.
Simon Says
My name is capitalism,
You can call me Simon
I built this shit like a pimp, ain’t even need to hit a lick
My name is Simon
Let’s play a game
I will tell you what to do
If you obey, you lose
If you don’t, you also lose
But I promise it’s fun
Simon says I want money
Simon says I can buy you
Simon says I can sell you and your kids, Like fruit
Yes Simon says you and your kids can be bought, and sold like strange ass fruit
Simon says go to school
Then at school Simon sends you to the office
Simon searches your book bag, asks your teachers about your behavior
Simon says shut up, control yourself or else
Simon finds you again
This time, with your head down on the desk
After Mr. Simon yelled at you for not talking
Then yelled again when you shouted the correct answer
Mr. Simon calls you a bad boy, says you deserve to be punished
Says you must not listen, back at home
Mr. Simon sends you to a cage this time
Where you get to meet
Officer Simon
You see, Simon wants bodies
I mean money
Simon says he wants money
Simon tells judges they will get more money
Because like I said
Simon wants bodies
So Judge Simon sits at the bench
Sending kids like you to cages
Because Simon wants bodies
And bodies give Simon money
And they listen to Simon
Because what Simon says goes
And it’s all just a game of, Simon says
Simon says shake what your mama gave ya
Simon says bend it over as
I reap my benefits
Simon says I’ll throw some bills at ya
Simon says you’re the commercial
I just want a show
Simon says my name is
Simon so you’ll do as told
Remember Simon says he wants bodies
Simon says throw a ball
You’re only as valuable as you are able
Simon still wants bodies
Because Simon wants the show, remember?
Simon says you will stand for this country
And you will throw a ball for this country
And kiss the blessed flag
Simon ain’t give a damn about
Bullets six inches deep and
Bodies six feet under
What value do you have then
If you aren’t entertaining?
if you aren’t breathing?
if you aren’t profiting?
You’re just breathing dollar signs
Simon says you will do as you are told
Simon owns you
Simon owns money
So Simon owns bodies
Can’t handle the jail cell?
Can’t handle the casket?
Can’t play this game with
Simon?
Don’t worry.
He’ll get your kids
I hope they listen at home.
RW.
1492 Blues
“In 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue
He had 3 ships and left from Spain
He sailed through sunshine, wind, and rain…”
And nothing was ever the same,
Still filled with nothing but pain.
“He sailed by night; He sailed by day
He used the stars to find his way
A compass also helped him know
How to find the way to go…”
Ready to ruin homes
With cocoa bodies as cargo
Who would have known
How far this would go
“October 12 their dream came true
You never saw a happier crew”
Singing the 1492 Blues
Dreams with screams & spilled bloodstreams
Linger like a shadow, like the stench of burning flesh
Nothing like the 1492 Blues
Sung on the backs of honey hues
RW.