Visual Poet’s Thirty, 30 Days of National Poetry Month 2011; Atlantic Slave Trade Poem

On this day of National Poetry Month 2011; my poem, visual poetry Stolen Dignity honors all the souls snatched from Africa and sold into slavery, worldwide; via the Atlantic Slave Trade.

African drums

Fading, fading into the night 

Innocent souls, were snatched, outright

Souls were wickedly shackled and yoked

Darkening that freedom’s light

All were crammed into ships, close and tight

Bound for far, far lands; out of sight

My Lord, my Lord; why the plight

African drums

African soothing proud drums

Fading, fading into the night 

Recalling the stolen families

Recalling the vitality of dignity

Recalling might and insight

And, finally recalling the will

Recalling the will, to fight 

Excerpt from Stolen Dignity 

Copyright by Deborah Young, Visual Poet