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Look To My Back
Look To My Back
If you look to my back
A story you would see
The hardships I endured
Moments I put my family before me
Moments my freedom was more important
If you look to my back
You will see moments less than a human I became
Moments less than a man I became
Times I hesitated because family was more important
A tree illustrated from the lashes
A design of my pain, ownership and pride
If you look to my back
My life ends there
If I ever knew hope it was taken away from me
A piece of my soul escaped from there
Transferring itself in my future generations
If you look to my back
Touch every inch of it
Feel the impressions I made from it
Absorb the emotions I gave from it
If you look to my back
Where the whip cracked and landed
Where I became nude
Where I got to the point of no movement
You would not change places with me
Look to my back
There is a story for you
A story of freedom, suffrage and sadness
A story worth repeating
A story worth understanding
Look to my back…
Comments
prezereese
Wed, 2020-07-08 06:55
This poem exudes the feelings
This poem exudes the feelings felt during such changing and trying times
c lynn brooks
Wed, 2020-07-08 14:37
a potrait of a man
I must admit the use of your title gave pause for a moment
I found it unusual
welcome to Neo Poet
Chrys
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Lavender
Wed, 2020-07-08 20:01
Look to My Back
Hello!
Oh, my...your poem is stunning. Excellent, really. As I was reading, I felt each strike, each sacrifice. So, so touching. Quite extraordinary in feeling and emotion. Truly, it has touched me deeply. Your title is perfect. I see your back so vividly, each and every painful scar.
Thank you,
Lavender
I'm seeing here that you have entered this as a workshop poem under "A Concert to Remember." I am wondering if this was in error and you actually have a personal entry.