If I had been
Born long ago
There’s certain things
That I would know
viscerally
I would’ve felt
It all along
That slavery
Is cruel and wrong
absolutely
Men and women
I’d surmise
Are equal in
Their maker’s eyes
naturally
I’d stand upon
The highest ground
And I would know
That Earth is round
certainly
And standing there
Beneath the sun
I’d know that all
Of life is one
easily
michaeljordahl 
I know too. You would not stand alone.
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I’d also be there.
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I want to agree as is depicted in the attached photo.
The capability of evil against fellow humans when they become chattel can become exponential in its injustice. That exponential potential, poisons the culture, and that is where we find world history.
From an honest perspective I must ask myself, “would the callousness of repeated injustice witnessed from infancy forward shape my world view?” Most likely yes. I may have not liked it but I would have likely accepted its norm.
I do not address the vicious treatment of beatings etc. Those types of actions were typically viewed as wrong as spelled out in the Judeo-Christian view (ancient writings). Slavery and bond-servitude was one way a person destined to die a slow starving death could survive. It was normal globally.
We certainly do abhor it now. We are the lucky ones, aren’t we?
Peace to you Michael.
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Yes, the real meaning of the poem is that I most likely would accept such as normal in those times, but how? Am I not the same person now as I would’ve been then? Thanks
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I felt that message in its delivery Michael, and that’s how I read it. The visceral reference is the convicting source of our consciousness that sets a deeper tone. Well done.
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And to our horror it is still going on and all we can do from a distance is highlight those atrocities.
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Amazing poem.
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Thank you so much!!
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