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my daily poem feb 14, 15 2004 - (THE SEA,) (BOUND FEET)
THE SEA
The sea blown by the winds
A million lights glinting under the sun
Charting out a course for my mind
Each luminous line entering my mind
Helping clear my muddled thoughts
Lessening the pressure of thinking
Slowly, slowly, the hynoptic lines
Dance and glint in increasing intensity
Towards dusk affording a mental exercise
More illuminating than meditation
I then feel the sea taking up my
Thoughts and feelings sending them
To yonder lands where there are friends
Ancient chinese oddities were
As myriad as its people.
One of these were bound feet.
A Chinese gentleman judged his woman
By the feet in the old days.
Her face mattered but more were her
Feet which had to be as small
As three-inches, a society gauge for
Her breeding and status.
Confucius needs to take part of the
Blame for saying women are born to
Serve their men and no other
Which spawned the bound feet tradition.
Years of pains, tears and sleepless
Nights went into making these
Chinese women walk in little gaits as
Required of a lady, a sign that she was
Not a product of household chores.
Big feet equalled slavery and low births.
An ego trip, it was, for the adherents
