Seeing Her Being Her

Homeless, aloneness, her future so bleak
Hasn’t seen a bed or a shower for a week
Screaming at someone from the past
Trying to avenge those injuries at last

Every possession in an old plastic bag
Some kid shouts out, “Shut up you stupid hag!”
Your morbid curiosity gives way to irritation
You turn away along with your wealthy nation

Maybe you don’t like seeing her because you wouldn’t like being her
Would you mind seeing her if you wouldn’t mind being her?

She’s fresh into college, new books and life’s a charm
After nights of studying, a party, what’s the harm?
Waking from a stupor, the waft of stale beer
Phone, wallet, shoes are nowhere near
Alone on the stairs, an ache beyond words
It’s hers against his and the sorority girls
Pretend it didn’t happen; they come out to defend
The quarterback—So afraid it could happen to them.

Maybe you don’t like seeing her because you wouldn’t like being her
Would you mind seeing her if you wouldn’t mind being her?

“Have a nice day….we’ll sweep this away” the talking heads say
Won’t be on the news—advertisers can’t use it

Bellowing for days they took her baby away
A round-eyed calf she got to love for one day
He’s in what they call an “individual housing unit”
She can almost hear his cries beneath the waning moon
He’ll be killed soon
He’ll be killed soon
He’ll be killed soon
She’ll be hooked up to the milking machine for at least a year more
Then passed across the same slaughterhouse floor

Maybe you don’t like seeing her because you wouldn’t like being her
Would you mind seeing her if you wouldn’t mind being her?

Music and Lyrics: Lisa Barca