A Slave's Plight
The air on board was foul and putrid.
Chained together at the ankle in
coffles, evil dragged me and others
with scabbed lips on board.
Humiliated under the sun, we were
stripped naked and examined from
head to toe and put in quarters to
be raped.
My senses dulled from abuse, bouts
of hunger with nausea, constipation
and headaches made me sick.
The hallucinations from the forlorn
distance sent shivers down my spine
as lulling whispers of shackles
tormented me.
The anchor was set up, huge sails
caused the ship to fly amidst ominous
looming dark clouds.
Thunder rumbled like a hungry monster.
Cold breeze swept across the ship as i
lay numb from the pain for months.
Heavy cowhide descended on my
shrinking flesh and manacled limbs.
I grieved yesterday’s anguish as the
sacred zeal in my bosom glowed
preceding with my woes.
A raised wooden stage welcomed
me ashore.
Naked, exposed to the sun’s piercing
beam, bids were tallied carefully.
Negotiations were made, i now
belonged to “massa”.
Working the heat in the plantations
under harsh conditions, my back ached
and wounds from the whipping from the
overseer hurt – my fingers bled from
picking cotton.
Mentally subdued, i hid behind religion’s
soothing balm.
My mind was no longer my own, this body
belonged to “massa”.
I constantly pranced in the hallowed night,
lamenting a hopeless future for my child-
humming a languid song in hope that my
ancestors might hear my plight.
I raised my head to the sky, and envisioned
freedom’s caress under a constellation.
Copyright © Carolyne M. Acen | Year Posted 2016
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