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Alcestis on the Poetry Circuit Lyrics by Vanessa Daou

Welcome To My Blues: An Anthology (1994-2017)

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The best slave does not need to be beaten, she beats herself
Not with a leather whip or with stick or twigs
Not with a blackjack or a billyclub but with the fine whip
Of her own tongue and the subtle beating of her mind against her mind
For who could hate her half so well as she hates herself?
And who can match the finesse of her self-abuse?
Years of training are required for this
Twenty years of subtle self-indulgence
Self-denial until the subject
Thinks herself a queen and yet a beggar
Both at the same time
She must doubt herself in everything but love
She must choose passionately and badly
She must feel lost as a dog without her master
She must refer all moral questions to her mirror
She must fall in love with a cossack or a poet
She must never go out of the house unless veiled in paint
She must wear tight shoes so she always remembers her bondage
She must never forget she is rooted in the ground
Though she is quick to learn and admittedly clever
Her natural doubt of herself should make her so weak
That she dabbles brilliantly in half a dozen talents
And thus embellishes but does not change our life
If she's an artist and comes close to genius
The very fact of her gift should cause her such pain
That she will take her own life rather than best us
And after she dies, we will cry and make her a saint
Credits
Vanessa Daou

Vanessa Daou

About “Alcestis on the Poetry Circuit” by Vanessa Daou

Read the complete lyrics to "Alcestis on the Poetry Circuit" by Vanessa Daou from the album "Welcome To My Blues: An Anthology (1994-2017) ". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under R&B.

"Alcestis on the Poetry Circuit" is performed by Vanessa Daou. from the album "Welcome To My Blues: An Anthology (1994-2017) " This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Alcestis on the Poetry Circuit", explore more songs by Vanessa Daou using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Alcestis on the Poetry Circuit" is credited to Vanessa Daou. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Alcestis on the Poetry Circuit" appears on "Welcome To My Blues: An Anthology (1994-2017) ".

Visit the Vanessa Daou artist page at /artist/vanessa-daou for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.