Take my share of Soul Food-I do not wish
To taste of pig Of either gut or Grunt from bowel Or jowel
I want caviar Shrimp scouffle’ Sherry Champagne and not because
These are the Whites domain but just because I’m entitles-
For I’ve been V.d.’d enough T.b.’d enough and Hoe-cake fed
Knock-knee’d enough Spindly leg-bloodhound tree’d enough
To eat High on the Hog
I’ve been Hired last Fired first enough I’ve sugar-watered my Thirst enough-
Been lynched enough Slaved enough Cried enough Died enough
Been deprived-Have survived enough
To eat High on the Hog
Keep the black-eyed peas and the grits
The high blood-pressured chops and gravy sops
I want aperitifs supreme Baked Alaska-something suave, cool
For I’ve been considered faithful fool from 40 acres and a mule…
I’ve been Slighted enough Sever-righted enough And up tighted enough
And I want High on the Hog
For dragging the cotton sack On bended knees In burning sun
In homage to the Great- King cotton
For priming the money-green tobacco and earning pocket-change
For washing in iron pots For warming by coal and soot For eating the leavings from Others’ tables
I’ve lived my wretched life Between domestic rats And foreign wars
Carted to my final rest In second-hand cars
But I’ve been leeched enough Dixie-peached enough Color bleached enough
And I want High on the Hog!
Oh I’ve heard the Mau Mau Screaming Romanticizing Pain
I hear them think They go against the Grain
But I’ve lived in shacks Long enough Had strong black beaten Backs long enough And I’ve been Urban-planned Been monyilanned Enough
And I want High on the Hog…
