We find that people
will heatedly defend
their right to be enslaved,
will boast of how much power
their enslaver has, compared to others,
how thoroughly they make them suffer,
how everyone should rightly
be subject to the same

We find that these
will not take kindly
to suggestions that they could be free

When this occurs,
go softly —
You’ll win no cases arguing against them.

Sit them down. Wash their feet.
Let them feel the gentleness
of your caress.
Let their toes —
just their toes at first —
stretch tender into freedom.

©Wendy Mulhern
November 19, 2014