Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot, (B)

While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs, (A)

Making their mock at our accursed lot. (B)

If we must die, O let us nobly die, (C)  

So that our precious blood may not be shed (D)

In vain; then even the monsters we defy (C)

Shall be constrained to honor us though dead! (D)

O kinsmen! we must meet the common foe! (E)

Though far outnumbered let us show us brave, (F)

And for their thousand blows deal one death-blow! (E)

What though before us lies the open grave? (F)

Like men we’ll face the murderous, cowardly pack, (G)

Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back! (G)

Alliterate

Must meet

Their Thousand

Assonance

Hogs, dogs

Spot, Lot

Die, Defy

Shed, Dead

Foe, Deathblow

Brave, Grave

Pack, Back

Die/Death, honor, Bravery.  Fighting back injustice even if it means to die while doing so.

Hunted and penned

Constrained to honor

I see a town hall meeting filled with people who have been wronged by the color of their skin. They are rallying together to go against the governor of their town. The man speaking is the leader and he is expressing to his friends and members of the community that they are being trodden down and trampled under the feet of men who see them as lesser human beings. The poem is his speech or battle cry to get them ready to head out and face these men who oppress them and make them see they are equals and deserve to be treated as such even if it means they may die.

1.       “O kinsmen! We must meet the common foe!” I joined a Facebook group of people, my sister actually introduced me to it, that are no longer a part of the religion we were all raised in and discussing how this religion harmed and damaged us/ We help one another to heal and move forward no matter the hate we face from those who are still part of this religion.

2.       “Though far outnumbered let us show us brave” This phrase reminds me of when I decided I no longer wanted to belong to the religion I was raised in. Sitting with people who were once my friends explaining why I know it’s not true and having them turn their backs on me. 

3.       “And for their thousand blows deal one deathblow!” During both of my prior marriages and two other serious relationships I was verbally, sexually, and physically assaulted. Those blows kept coming and coming as I tried to repair the relationships and thought it would change. The deathblow came when I said enough and walked out and filed for divorce. They never expected me to leave and tried to con me back in but I stood firm and left them for good and divorced them.

I chose this particular poem because it hit a cord with me. I’ve felt an anger inside me that says get out don’t look back and fight for your rights. Fight even if you die to get out of your oppressive situation. I never want anyone to go through what I’ve been through or the other horrors people of all race and religion have dealt with. To me this poem is a battle cry of humanity trying to wake us up as humans to the injustice and nature of our society and to fight back.