Que Vadis?

If I be woman, man, cripple, too dark or light
If my eyes be crescent or full,
If my tongue twists in ways foreign to you,
Shall I be judged inferior?

If my flesh be peeled back and laid open
If my heart, my mind, my limbs be severed
Would you despise me still?
Would your hate then be tempered
Or would the very marrow within my bones
Demand your spurn.

If I remained standing
Would you force me to
Bend like reeds tapping earth
Beneath the onslaught of a tempest
Or would you insist
My naked bones
Be burnt and ground to ash.

Would this grant either of us peace
Or would my memory alone
Instill in you
Even more fear...


Richard Nedervelt