Heartwood

Every Rebel Statue

by Lindsey Eck

There’s a monument to Stonewall Jackson
and a monument to Robert E. Lee
riding either side of the courthouse
with their backs to the Land of the Free
There’s an old guy in a wig on the money
who used to take a whip to his slaves
Confederate hags sewing Confederate flags
to fly over Confederate graves

But every rebel statue
is about to fall
We’re coming at you
with a wrecking ball

There’s an Interstate named for a traitor
and a college for a head of the Klan
weddings at the former plantation
where the local insurrection began
If your heritage is rooted in treason
and your fortune comes from other men’s pain
don’t be too surprised when the ones you despise
sever every link in the chain

And every rebel statue
is about to fall
We’re coming at you
with a wrecking ball
There is no more virtue
in a field of red
It all should have ended
when Lee’s men surrendered
It’s time to put your banners to bed

There’s an army base that’s named for the enemy
and a frat that’s full of rebel tattoos
a cannon parked in front of the Legion
from those who chose the gray over blue
There’s a county named for Jefferson Davis
one for Beauregard who failed at his job
and up on the hill where the major was killed
his statue’s getting smashed by a mob

Every rebel statue
is about to fall
We’re coming at you
with a wrecking ball
There is no more virtue
in a field of red
It all should have ended
when Lee’s men surrendered
Your Lost Cause is finally dead

Every rebel statue
is about to fall