let me tell you of the first human (woman) invention–the bag
how it carried all that was picked and grown and sown on the land
this bag did not kill, did not waste
it kept work slow and left little trace

this bag was woven and so were the first walls of shelter
braiding trees and grasses and hides into shape
the first divide between skin and soil
sun and brow, us and our fate

this divide grew and grew
and so did societal hierarchy
we began to see ourselves above the natural world
Instead of entwined in it entirely

in medieval times, wage labor began
so all these hands that could spin, weave and work the land
started to make their rightful demands
they often joined forces, making intricate plans

all these thoughts were brewing under their hats
these carders and weavers and dyers and spinners and fullers and peasants
and when they took up their tools as weapons
they were sure to leave a lasting impression

they made some gains, and gained some wealth
but were always kept in their place
for those who use both their hands and minds
are rarely allowed to leave a trace

business was booming, wool, linen and cotton
when a new red was found in a tree far away
so forests were flattened and people enslaved
colonization continues today

then there came this great cotton machine
that could do the work of 50 humans
but instead of setting those people free
they enslaved four times their numbers to grow the industry

two decades later, a group led by a fictitious weaver named Ludd
smashed machines in protest
they were not against the machine, but the way it was used
to produce more and pay less, all in the name of progress

from then until now, even more mass production
factories of workers making more and more for less
70% of the waste of the world is textile
what a mess

we have always clothed the rich to keep their image of power
Tyrian purple, foreign wool, blood diamonds and silk
but let’s not forget those we rarely see
the hands behind the image itself

we all spread seed when survival is uncertain
buy new t-shirts made with blood and sweat
wild and rot will find us still
purity is a myth

now in this garden we all must live
and weave our lives together
use what we have, our hands and minds
everyone should have as much as another