Lightyears a Slave

Inspired by "White light" and the story of "12 years a Slave".

Whytealyetit glowing hisway Me, black strains Pull in spite bluewind blowing chains

Sorrows woventongue tied brains star red his leisure beetwin fabwhip pin chains

Lies tat lie hoursman hangs high, whitesheets dragon rawfruit sprawled unwakeing

Breath taken widthgall diss clarity lightyears a slave my disdain artistically forsaken

Death shaken while the sightsauced world beams me down complacent.

Author's Note

Photo Credit: Tight Packing (Thomas Clarkson, 1821 & ...

Reviews

[Alexanda Corrin]

Interesting writing style, though the jumble of words is a tad confusing. I do like the included image, sorry to ask and don't be offended - I can be a bit dense - but what are you trying to convey with this poem? Is it that time is caging?

[Sethnicity]

Great Deduction Alex!
Oh yeah, Way to dive in head first and pull a pearl from the madness!
I was at that time and still from time to time attempting to push rhythm and meter boundaries. This poem unfolds when you loosen your tongue and mind and allow the words to slur together in a slave language known as gullah. (I'm bending the meaning of other words to suit the narrator) Read it at a whisper as if you were there trying not to be seen, like a slave on the wall confined to just watching the abuse of another. Now I'll send you the translation after you have considered this.

[Alexanda Corrin]

Now re-reading it, I find the poem makes a lot more sense with that clarification!