Two masters.
(A collage poem constructed from excerpts of the writings of Frederick Douglass and the KJV of the Christian Bible.)
“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
He would at times seem to take great pleasure in whipping a slave.
For the husband is the head of the wife,
Aunt Hester had not only disobeyed his orders in going out,
even as Christ is the head of the church:
but had been found in company with Lloyd’s Ned;
and he is the saviour of the body.”
from what he said while whipping her, was the chief offence.
He then told her to cross her hands, calling her at the same time a d–d b–h.
“Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife,
He then said to her, “Now, you d–d b–h, I’ll learn you how to disobey my orders!
” –as unto the weaker vessel.”
after rolling up his sleeves, he commenced to lay on the heavy cowskin,
“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”
and soon the warm, red blood (amid heart-rending shrieks from her, and horrid oaths from him) came dripping to the floor.
“For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:”
–a miserable drunkard, a profane swearer, and a savage monster.
“For Adam was first formed, then Eve.”
3 thoughts on "Two masters."
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the bible has never sounded so kinky.
Comparing the obscenity of slavery to the potential cruelty of the idea of submission in a marriage- very powerful
Really a very blood chilling juxtaposition. These particular passages together remind me of some blood sacrifices often described in the bible. The cruelty is a justifiable payment for the sin of not being a white male. Incredibly accurate observation, and also, I applaud the experimental form!