Discourse / Counter-Discourse
In the garden, the washing line
fell into disuse. First the women forgot
how to remove stains, then they
forgot cloth altogether.
They danced in celebration –
blood and chocolate everywhere.
Gradually, they forgot a lot of things
because there was no longer the anger
there to remind them.
Banished to the woods, the men
played patience and learned
to peg out their smalls.
There was much to be put right,
but they weren’t worried.
At night they re-drew
the pictures in the stars and
sure as eggs
knew they would be back.
James Brown