Liberty Belle

(album: Slip Of The Tongue - 2020)

She's like no one
You've met before
A rare little flower
A precious stone

Unpolished, upturned, gritty and growing up
She's resilient in the shade of adversity
Rebellious in the face of a threat

Amiable, changeable
You'll like her 'til she
Knocks your block off
If you step on her
Once cobbled toes
That they stole
That they sold

Like her rights from under her stout dipped nose
Her sons fought and died
Gave their lives
As her daughters heavily bled

In backstreets from dim lit desperate deeds
Drugs blackened her teeth
But her spirit, her mind, is blindingly bright
And a beautiful sight to behold

Her heart has been broken
Bruised, dropped, used up
She's suffered taunts, been ridiculed
And labelled by fools

So when you pick her up
Don't patronise her
Talk to her
Look her straight in the eye

And see her glory blind you sideways, frontways
Every bleeding way
She's a handsome one
But don't drench her in praise

That makes her squirm
Beyond her pale confine
Let her rise with a pride
That can only be earned

From the life she has given
To all who have lived within her
She's in my blood
She's in my core
She is me
And I am her

She's free, she's a fine thing
But not your thing nor my thing
Not a nun nor a moll
Between you, me and the wall
That lady taking liberties
She's the belle of the ball