Miscellaneous:

[LW Barker]

"Dedicated to my ancestors, and their struggle to be free"

I wonder what it was like to be a slave
captured and chained, dragged and beaten,
taken and separated from family and friends.

Tied in bondage deep below the ship's deck
pondering a way of escape, a way for rebellion
fighting to be free from the chains, and the whip
jumping overboard just to be free food for the sharks
Brought to distant lands to live in turmoil.

No, I know what it was like to be a slave, for I am the
sum of all their dreams to be free.

[PaintedDiary]

L.W.,
This was an emotional piece that reads stong. I believe most African-Americans have pondered about this, and indeed we are the end result of our ansectors dreams. I believe you gave just enough, then summarized it beautifully at the end. Yes, slavery tainted our history, however, no one will forget that we are the progeny of Kings and Queens. I am enamored by the painting you have scribed here.

[MsJacquiiC]

The Following Text Is Quoted:

pondering a way of escape, a way for rebellion
fighting to be free from the chains, and the whip

Hi LW - This piece speaks of a freedom long sought and long fought for I love the ending of this piece - it's strength to know that the SLAVES burden and their fight was not in vain.

Interesting topic to poet to actually... It seems in this day and age that the story of slavery would be only a distant memory... Unfortunately it isn't! Turn on the news and you hear the same story - only in the mideast. Sad story - but true. Perhaps one day the story of slavery WILL BE that distant memory that it deserves to be.

Freedom is precious!
Thanx for sharing this poem LW.

Jacquii.

[eatmypen]

The strength of this poem does indeed lie in the last stanza. I think few people, as part of the race that they are, can comprehend the magnitude of the injustice that slavery has exercised on the African-American people. The past needs to be remembered and hope needs to be taken from the very bleakness of this past. Your poem is simple and inspiring.

[TrueBlue]

Those last two lines make the poem.