THE PHILOSOPHIZING SLAVE

As thirst discourses best on water,

and night is the expert on day,

so is the slave an authority on freedom.

The deepest questions

about evil, oppression and betrayal

are written on the wales on his back.

He is like a Jonah

in the belly of the seas of history.

His cane-piece is an academy

for meditations

on labour

For the benefit of his own body;

and on work

for equality, democracy and prosperity.

Yet if he learns to read

they will chop off his hand.

But he knows

that neither parliament nor throne

can bind

the liberty of his philosophizing mind.