21st century black warrior wimmins chant for strengthening the nerves & getting yourself together sisters mothers cousins girlfriends aunties lovers grandmothers daughters we honor yo bad wimmins selves we pour libation to you sisters mothers cousins girlfriends aunties lovers grandmothers daughters you who sing the original break(out) songs: steal away/steal away/ steal away/cuz we aint got long to stay here you who wont bow down to no father or husband or lover or boss or government you who are the womanlover or the manlover you who waylay rapists and child abusers and absentee landlords in the alleyways and on the rooftops you who resist the dopedealer and outslick the pimp you who keep mr executives hands in their place you who plan and carry out the work slowdown and the strike you who outmaneuver the overseer in the fields under the hot sun or in the factory on the airconditioned assemblyline you who break up all madames fine china and sprinkle rust on her imported linens you who mix dried blood and powdered glass into mastas quiche& salad you who raise children to love themselves and create solutions you who dream and plan and work with us for the future with yo bad wimmins selves we honor you with yo bad wimmins selves we pour libation to you with yo bad wimmins selves we wear your colors with yo bad wimmins selves we eat your foods with yo bad wimmins selves we dance your dances with yo bad wimmins selves cuz you give us something with yo bad wimmins selves that is carrying us through this world with yo bad wimmins selves we honor you with yo bad wimmins selves we call on you with yo bad wimmins selves witness us in our battles with yo bad wimmins selves witness us in our battles with yo bad wimmins selves witness us in our battles with you bad wimmins selves with yo bad wimmins selves Copied without permission from _Sister_No_Blues_ by hattie gossett Published by Firebrand Books.