Truth

by Deana   Apr 25, 2009


Written for a club challenge: see the world today through the eyes of someone over a hundred years ago

I chose Sojourner Truth ( Isabella Baumfree)
(1797-1883) A slave

Truth

Oh, I hears ya!
complainin bout everything.
Guess aint nothin right in your world.
women on welfare
A shame they say
State feedin their younguns!

Oh, this feeble mind does wander
To those years so long ago
Master wrapped us in his chains
Hearts were singin sad and low

Supposin you aint happy
No fancy vacations and all
I hear ya sayin "times are hard"
Rememberin the sweat
On the backs of my people
along with the stripes!

I hear theres lots of rules now
About raisin the little ones
Abuse! it's been outlawed
Now that's good
Remember, Master Tom
Took my little Peter
Right from my beggin arms
Left me achin inside.

Say your havin trouble
makin ends meet
Remember once,
pretendin I weren't hungry
So my little Sophie could eat
without feelin bad
weren't enough to go round.

Oh this feeble mind does wander
to those years so long ago
Master wrapped us in his chains
Hearts were singin sad and low

My ol' pa used to say
"I felt sorry for the boy who had no shoes,
Til I saw the boy who had no feet"
Smart man, Pa
Wish he could've seen the day
A black man became president
Aint bout color though
It's bout bein free
to choose
to make things better!
Had ya lived my life...
they're better!

5


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Latest Comments

  • 15 years ago

    by Daisy if you do

    Deana,
    Oh my dear heavens! This is the most remarkable piece of yours and among my very favorites of everyones. You were able to place yourself into an era bygone and speak the language and most likely the tone of what the character would have said. I have oft heard my grandmother use some of this speak. She worked in the fields right beside these women when she was younger. Yes, even after slavery was a thing of the past they still had to make a living and worked the fields. You have done such a beautiful job with this and your growing talent astounds me to no ends. Great Job on this.

  • 15 years ago

    by The Prince

    I hope you are proud of this piece, the character was instantly likeable and you brought the whole piece alive with a simple narrative, not too overburdened with images and metaphor. I can't really add to the above, and I could go on all day but I won't. I have no critique for this - you did a fantastic job, bravo. :)

  • 15 years ago

    by Deana

    ^there's a problem I've always had with this line, if it ain't about color, than why was black used in the description?

    Just to clarify....It is not about the fact of choosing a "black" man but about having the freedom to do so. In that time that would not have been an option because of his color!

  • 15 years ago

    by Beautiful Chaos

    I absolutely love what you did here Deana, I am glad I submitted the challenge, you did a great job.

    Oh, this feeble mind does wander
    To those years so long ago
    Master wrapped us in his chains
    Hearts were singin sad and low

    Supposin you aint happy
    No fancy vacations and all
    I hear ya sayin "times are hard"
    Rememberin the sweat
    On the backs of my people
    along with the stripes!

    ^ I thought these along with the beginning stanza was a good smack at us nowadays. We find so much to complain about and so many of us don't bother looking back at what was overcome to allow us the life we live today.

    Say your havin trouble
    makin ends meet
    Remember once,
    pretendin I wern't hungry
    So my little Sophie could eat
    without feelin bad
    weren't enough to go round.

    ^A great remembrance of sacrificing for children and doing what you had to do to make sure they didn't go without, even if you had to.

    A beautiful write Deana.

  • 15 years ago

    by Sylvia

    Bravo. This is one of the best writes I have seen in a long time and we should all take heed at the words you have written. Well done.

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