historical ethics

[justcloudy]

three fifths

an endless stream
of backs of black
that’s all you were to us.
perpetually bending
scarred
warped with work.

“walk!" we screamed
"obey!” we threatened
"reproduce." we demanded.

you huddled
heads down
wrapped in colorless blankets.
you reached for hope
while hating it.

and you sang of love
from the fields of fabric
the love of a creator
thrust upon you
adopted and adapted
for convenience
for survival.

you sang not
of the hushed and silent love
you felt
at night. with the heavy breathing all around
loudly lumbering through sleep
the day was kept away
for some time longer
to refill your heart
(but just enough
and sometimes not…)

blood still screams from
the unforgetting unforgiving ground
seeping upwards
it creeps
it weeps
for a time lost
to innocent malevolence
for a time
of red.

red earth
red skin
red cloth
red tears.



[a theme from my giant "nation of peace" reworked]