Life Among the Lowly - A Runaway Success

Life Among the Lowly - A Runaway Success

You wrote so well, Harriet Beecher Stowe,
- that Lincoln dubbed you "the Woman who started the War",
- that Britain shied away from supporting the South,
- that anti-Tom literature sprung forth like a geyser,
... but slavery did get abolished!

So inspired were you by the escape story of Josiah Henson,
- so committed to your tale that you wrote it well,
- so creative that your narrative had a touch of the authentic -
... and yet, you had never visited a Southern Plantation!

I, a writer too, salute your prowess:
Your book, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" became
the second best-seller of the century
out-sold only by the Bible, and no other,
selling 300,000 copies within a year ...

Lo! Here I am, a published author
with a tome on "Parenting",
struggling with post-sales,
seeking attractive cover designs,
depositing money with the publisher,
sticking posters on maternity ward walls,
distributing hand-bills with newspapers,
appearing on radio-shows to promote it and
pushing its sales with discounts and freebies -
and still way ... behind.
How I envy you, Madam Stowe!

© Dr. Taher Kagalwala, May 2006

Written for:

Preliminary Round 1 of "SLAM!"   by Cappucine