erasure poem:
a Declaration
of Female Freedom
Janet Kuypers
3/17/17
These are selected women’s rights words pulled
from the United States Declaration of Independence.
it becomes necessary
to dissolve this
to assume power
separate from man
i impel the separation
hold these truths
to be self-evident,
men create no rights
on life and happiness—
men derive power
from the weak
and i am not
more disposed to suffer
evils are themselves
a long train of abuses
and it is right for me
to provide new
future security
it is now necessity
to avoid injuries
and the absolute tyranny
over me
He has utterly neglected me,
refused me
thought I am only a body
for the sole purpose of
compliance with his measures
He has dissolved my rights
He has refused for a long time
any power I have
He has prevented
obstructed justice
on his Will alone,
to harrass
with Military power
his acts
on all parts
on us without our Consent
depriving us benefits
for offenses
on the free
Bound at once
an example
for introducing
the same absolute rule
For once
what is
Right
for us
and with this firm reliance,
we pledge
our Lives
and our sacred Honor.
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