Long Angstwork Poems

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