John Loving Iii Poet Narrative

An Oarsman

not a captain or a first mate
but an oarsman was to be their fate
the oarsman row the ship along
either one , two  or hundreds strong

one small part of a large ship
but surly the tool that carries it
from sea to sea

an oarsman must have rhythm
and his back must be strong
his work is heavy laden 
and his toil is all day long

sometimes when they falter
they feel the lash of the whip
the weakness of an oarsman
may alter the course of the ship

the life of a slave. an intelegent animal
a God forsaken trade, 
reserved for the damnedable

the oarsman and his fate
though terrible and long
they did the work 
and sang the oarsman song

they pulled the oars 
moving the ship along
and all they get for thanks
was the lash of the whip

places were discovered
empires were built
the sea's goods were delivered
from oarsman driven ships

but still ; no thanks for the oarsman 
or slave. 
Has America ever thanked the slaves?
or the lowly who work the hardest and are
paid the least
are we still yet oarsmen

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Phyllis Babcock August 13, 2009 at 8:24 PM Maybe someday things will be equal for all persons and we will make a better world. God Bless Phyl

Dane Ann Smith-Johnsen August 8, 2009 at 5:00 AM John iii This is a great poem about a long lived human condition. Whether paid by money, as today, or in kind, as was done in Egyptian times (during the 7 year famine that enslaved so many Hebrews in exchange for food.) There always seems to be the controllers and the workers. Maybe someday, there was be equal respect for every human job. It is as a whole that mankind has achieved his standing on earth. Some are humble. Some defiant, some hateful, some self-reliant. ll God's children. DAS-J

Sara Kendrick August 5, 2009 at 3:59 PM Love the writing, John. Keep writing. Sara

Aleera De La Keur August 5, 2009 at 12:24 PM Wonderful write, as always, you also have some soup mail from me, keep up the great writing....Aleera

James Peranteau August 3, 2009 at 4:32 PM Powerful poetry John ! I could not agree with you more ! Loved this !! james

Carol Sunshine Brown August 2, 2009 at 10:57 AM A very enjoyable read you have written and shared with us today. Thank you John. Love, Carol

Charmaine Chircop August 2, 2009 at 6:11 AM interesting write John,your writes always my pleasure--bravo--charma

James Marshall Goff August 1, 2009 at 5:04 PM Hi John! thanks for comments! re- your ?....have you seen the movie "Fargo"??? this blockbuster was filmed right down the street from me! I work on the Skyway" (our system of building-to-building connections over the streets in DT Minneapolis, thua avoiding winter! over 100 skyways!) 2-blocks from where scenes from the film were staged...and we do talk like this! thanks for comments! jimbo

John Freeman August 1, 2009 at 12:53 PM A very interesting write, John, that is the case now, but justice of equally is comming. Moses

James Marshall Goff July 31, 2009 at 10:23 PM compassionate piece! John! yes! I believe we are!!!.... jim