Gone west

There is a power sleeping under these streets
Whose mother carried you on weary feet 
Whose father came for work & changed his name
He came for work, he changed his name 
He found the work, he lost your name —
Sleeping, but a power just the same

  AND THEY HAVE GONE INTO ANOTHER 
               COUNTRY
  YOUR BRIGHTEST AND YOUR BEST
  ON AND ON INTO THE DISTANCE
  FLAME OF OUR RESISTANCE
  SALT OF OUR EXISTENCE —
  GONE WEST

There is a power sleeping nobody knows
The years of washing other people's clothes
Who took the garbage out & brought the mail
Who swept the streets & felt no shame
Who walked the streets & took the blame —
Sleeping, but a power just the same.