Among Slaves

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

Here in the West, we often take our freedom for granted; (relative) freedom of speech, (relative) freedom of movement, the (relative) freedom to protest and more all come under the general heading, Democracy.

We have only to look at recent events in the Far East and North Africa to understand that we should never take any freedoms for granted.

The poem is a kenning. It last appeared on the blog in 2009, and if anyone is interested in hearing me read it, just click on the link below which will take you to my (very) informal poetry reading on the 4^th plinth in London’s Trafalgar Square, July 14^th 2009. I included Among Slaves (without alternative title) among other poems as my contribution to sculptor Antony Gormley’s One and Other ‘living sculpture’ project. However, I should warn you that it lasts an hour. [The entire web stream showing all 2,400 people doing their ‘own thing’ for an hour (each) on the plinth is now archived in the British Library; to access all 100 days 24/7  simply remove Roger_T from the end of the link.]:

http://www.webarchive.org.uk/wayback/archive/20100223121732/oneandother.co.uk/participants/Roger_T [NB.Sept 19, 2019: Today, the British Library confirmed that the link blow to the 4th plinth reading in 1999 is no longer available as the video is incompatible with an updated IT system. However, I am assured that the video still exists, and B L hope to make it available to the public again one day. Fingers crossed, and watch this space.] RNT

AMONG SLAVES

I am that breath of wind in the hair

inviting the human spirit to confess

its foibles, rise above its troubles,

show the world what it’s made of

though its back forced against a wall,

those vultures, prejudice and fear,

homing in to pick clean the bones of

fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers

lured by false witness here

I am that first kiss of rain on the face,

drawing on the human spirit to open

its heart as a flower its petals to the sky,

lend its beauty to the eye so we do not

pass by but pause to reflect on the how

and why of its being, and ours, reasons

to deny the vultures a victory, let nature

tell a story bitter-sweet of humanity’s

attempts to compete

I am that first angry tug at the sleeve

urging the human spirit to turn away

from its prejudices and fears, confront

our lesser selves head-on and expose

them for what they are, though it test us

the more by far...take people as we find,

respecting their privacy, acknowledging

their integrity, learning from a natural

ingenuity to survive

Among slaves of time, I am eyes and ears

who call me Freedom and wipe my tears

[From: Accomplices to Illusion by R. N. Taber, Assembly Books, 2007]