deepundergroundpoetry.com
THE SUBLIME DEMI-SLAVE
THE SUBLIME DEMI-SLAVE
Women, what you are but demi-slaves,
controlled by the men who rule the roost!
You believe that you equal those kings
as the laws confer the rights on all.
Laws can't always come between two mates
and disturb the calmness that exists.
You prefer your husband to be kind
and accusing him will rouse his beast.
Sex for you is need as for a man,
but he always takes the upper hand.
When a mistake falls, you get a babe,
bringing you foul shame or bloody hands.
Only men who know how great you are
for your shyness and for your soft heart
might deserve your greatness and your care
as the mistress is who serves her house.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
____________________________________
.
Women, what you are but demi-slaves,
controlled by the men who rule the roost!
You believe that you equal those kings
as the laws confer the rights on all.
Laws can't always come between two mates
and disturb the calmness that exists.
You prefer your husband to be kind
and accusing him will rouse his beast.
Sex for you is need as for a man,
but he always takes the upper hand.
When a mistake falls, you get a babe,
bringing you foul shame or bloody hands.
Only men who know how great you are
for your shyness and for your soft heart
might deserve your greatness and your care
as the mistress is who serves her house.
BY JOSEPH ZENIEH
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
____________________________________
.
Published 17th Sep 2021
| Edited 20th Sep 2021
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
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Commenting Preference:
The author encourages honest critique.
17th Sep 2021 10:09pm
Dear SS,
Thank you very much for adding my poem to your reading list. I like to see that a woman shares me my opinion because l feel every single word l wrote in it, but l am not sure that women admit that what is written in it is true.
Thank you very much for adding my poem to your reading list. I like to see that a woman shares me my opinion because l feel every single word l wrote in it, but l am not sure that women admit that what is written in it is true.
17th Sep 2021 10:50pm
What on earth makes you think that you know (and, apparently, better that anyone else) what all women want, let alone that what being a mistress of a household is the role that all women are best suited for and in which they will find fulfilment?
And where can a reader find any musicality and/or lyricism in this piece?
And where can a reader find any musicality and/or lyricism in this piece?
Anonymous
17th Sep 2021 11:04pm
I can agree with this--I have known many, many women who definitely SHOULD NOT be "mistresses of households," are completely UN-SUITED to being wives and mothers.
17th Sep 2021 11:15pm
What does the thoughtful woman desire most for her old age, Baldwin? Don't tell me to meditate on your upper hand touch which gives her warmth as you said in your last poem.
18th Sep 2021 00:09am
I ask again: What makes you an expert on the topic of what it is that all women want? What reason does anyone have to think that what you say about women is true, let alone that you have sufficient experience with women, even "thoughtful" ones, to speak authoritatively about them or even to assume that biology determines destiny?
And I noticed that you skipped over answering where any poetic musicality and lyricism is to be found in your submission.
And I noticed that you skipped over answering where any poetic musicality and lyricism is to be found in your submission.
17th Sep 2021 11:22pm
Dear Mark,
If it is her choice not to get married, let her remain single. However, in most cases she remains single because she doesn't find the man who is ready to treat her as a real equal.
If it is her choice not to get married, let her remain single. However, in most cases she remains single because she doesn't find the man who is ready to treat her as a real equal.
18th Sep 2021 00:49am
A Thoughtful Woman's Response
I think now that I finally see
just why it is
you say that I and all my sisters, too,
should always show ourselves as shy
soft hearted things
believing that by choosing willfully
(if not from a desire to ward off
calumny and shame)
the role of demi-slave,
we gain “equality”.
It is because you are a Syrian
of prudish Medieval mind
and therefore one who takes some pride
that all his “manly” kith and kin
are underneath their skin dull beasts
who feel they are by nature and by God
entitled in their gendering
to beat us if we dare to rise
above the sexist station you’ve
assigned us to
and challenge your unfounded
chauvinistic certainty
your arrogated sense of righteousness
that you alone, not us,
know best what leads us to our happiness
I think now that I finally see
just why it is
you say that I and all my sisters, too,
should always show ourselves as shy
soft hearted things
believing that by choosing willfully
(if not from a desire to ward off
calumny and shame)
the role of demi-slave,
we gain “equality”.
It is because you are a Syrian
of prudish Medieval mind
and therefore one who takes some pride
that all his “manly” kith and kin
are underneath their skin dull beasts
who feel they are by nature and by God
entitled in their gendering
to beat us if we dare to rise
above the sexist station you’ve
assigned us to
and challenge your unfounded
chauvinistic certainty
your arrogated sense of righteousness
that you alone, not us,
know best what leads us to our happiness
20th Sep 2021 7:31pm
Did you intend this
"Women, what are you but demi-slaves,
controlled by the men who rule the roost."
to be taken as a statement or a question?
"Women, what are you but demi-slaves,
controlled by the men who rule the roost."
to be taken as a statement or a question?
