Slavery in Rome

A Series of Poems written by

Natasha Sheybani

Latin IV (Block 4)Roman Forum Project

“FROM THE LIPS OF A SLAVE”

  I submit to the demands of another man,

I am an item, sold into my fate,

I have no voice,

I am strong, yet bound by shackles,

I am poor in presence, but rich in spirit,

I am a slave. 

 

 I am a reaper of crops under the sweltering heat of the sun,

I am a builder of cities; with my bare hands, I raised Rome from the ground up,

I am the replacement upon my master’s

absence,

I am a faithful companion,

I am a slave. 

  I am greeted with disdain as I trudge through the emptiness of life,

I am sheltered, yet I am cold with the memories of my capturing,

I am hopeful though my posterity is forever shamed with servility,

I am beautiful, yet my appearance fades with every hour of labor, I rise with the sun and tuck in the moon, envious of its comfort as an embellishment of the night sky,

I am forever burdened; I am a slave.

“ENCUMBRANCE”

He enters this world,Soaring freely, cursed with

innocence.He is imminently received,With shackles.This is the only life,He will ever know.  

At the fate of her son,She weeps.Her physical strength is her moral

weakness,And as she parts from this world,He is left,To pay the price.

“QUESTIONS FOR HUMANITY”

 How does a mother tell her son,

That he is forever bound to one,

Man who will command his every move,

And from whom no respect will ever ensue?

  

How does a father tell his child,

That conditions will never once be mild,

That his slumber will rarely be peaceful again,

That his master will be his allotted friend? 

  How can one man profit at the expense of

another?

A man, a woman, a father, a mother.

Each man is as equal as the rest,

And that is society at its best.

ORIGINAL POEMS

“From the Lips of a Slave”I submit to the demands of another man,I am an item, sold into my fate,I have no voice,I am strong, yet bound by shackles,I am poor in presence, but rich in spirit,I am a slave. I am a reaper of crops under the sweltering heat of the sun,I am a builder of cities; with my bare hands, I raised Rome from the ground up, I am the replacement upon my master’s absence,I am a faithful companion,I am a slave. I am greeted with disdain as I trudge through the emptiness of life,I am sheltered, yet I am cold with the memories of my capturing, I am hopeful though my posterity is forever shamed with servility,I am beautiful, yet my appearance fades with every hour of labor,I rise with the sun and tuck in the moon, envious of its comfort as an

embellishment of the night sky,I am forever burdened; I am a slave.

“Encumbrance” He enters this world,Soaring freely, cursed with innocence.He is imminently received,With shackles.This is the only life,He will ever know. At the fate of her son,She weeps.Her physical strength is her moral weakness,And as she parts from this world,He is left,To pay the price.

“Questions for Humanity” How does a mother tell her son,That he is forever bound to one,Man who will command his every move,And from whom no respect will ever ensue? How does a father tell his child,That conditions will never once be mild,That his slumber will rarely be peaceful again,That his master will be his allotted friend? How can one man profit at the expense of another?A man, a woman, a father, a mother.Each man is as equal as the rest,And that is society at its best.

References Cited"Background: What is slavery?" The Romans. I.A., 2011. Web. 1 Nov 2011.

<http://www.richeast.org/htwm/Greeks/Romans/slavery/slavery2.html>.

"Roman Slaves." History Learning Site. historylearningsite.co.uk, 2011. Web.

1 Nov 2011. <http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/roman_slaves.htm>.

"Slave Auction." Roman Colosseum. Roman Colosseum, 2008. Web. 1 Nov

2011. <http://www.roman-colosseum.info/roman-life/slave-auction.htm>.

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