Poetry, A black man's book, ( Diary )
They ' ain't ever ' gona break my spirit.
I watched a documentary on TV, relaying the story of Africans being brought to America, schackled and used as forced labor in the 18th. century. This is one man's story.
I'm on a ship sailing away from the only home i'd ever known, Africa
I was one of a hundred captured, shackled together and put down in a hole on the ship to row toward a place called America
I heard the white man say, " row you bastard row
We rowed as fast as we could
Lord so hot down here below
The white man stood over us cursin'
Whippn' our backs if we ' was too slow
So we rowed real fast with all our might
Our childrn' off to the right
In a room where there ' ain't no light
I see women cryin'. I see grown men shamed and full of fright
I feel the whip a snappin' as we tried our best to rest
I see fear
I see proud men's puffed- up chest
They ' ain't ever ' gonna break our spirit's so we rowed faster and faster
Sweat pourin'
As we say, " Yer Sir Master "
We ' ain't ' gonna quit rowin' I hear a young man say
Our families are ' gona need us
When we get there someday
The white man with the big house came to look us over when we finally reached shore
I knew because i was big and strong
I'd be worth a whole lot more
I hear one man say, " I'll pay top dollar for that muscled young Buck, looks as strong as a dragon
I saw a young beautiful girl cryin'
When the old man shoved her in his wagon
Our childrn' was sold to the highest bidder
Choosin' the strongest
What the man called the best from the litter
I ' ain't got no more time for writen' in this here book
Prayin' someone someday will read it and know we made it, even learned to read and write
Only the Lord knows just how many souls it took
Before the white man saw the light.
I deleted this hub months ago, after reading it this morning i would like to replubish it again. I have many new followers who may want to read this story.
Comments
AUTHORHello radhikasree, Yes, The turmoil in other countries is escalating daily. Will we ever learn? I hope so..Thank you my friend..
Such a disgraceful behavior can be seen in the history of several countries, I think. The poem is a tearjerker.
- AUTHOR
Hello ubanichijioke, Thank you for telling me you felt the sadness, as did i when i watched the story unfold..Cheers..
Sad! Sad!! Sad!!!
Felt the sadness and the suffering relayed here. Such a sad tale.
Great job though!
- AUTHOR
Hello Epi, So glad you liked this piece. I found the video, ' Sail Away ' It's perfect for this. If I was there I would wipe both your's and my man George's eyes. Thank you so much. I appreciate you my Dear friend.
hubawesome - gotta get George Jones over here to serenade you with another love song for you Ruby after 'stunning' the epi-man with this beautiful poetic story - for me it played like a movie in my cinematic mind and also came to mind was the song by Randy Newman called Sail Away (check it out on you tube if not familiar)
Hubbravo Ruby - George is crying here; so is me.
lake erie time 10:57pm sending you my deepest respects, Ruby my dear , the Monk tune. (you know the one)
- AUTHOR
Hello Bill, I am afraid I have that dreaded writers block. It hits me at times, hopefully i will find my voice again soon. Thank you so much for coming to check. I appreciate you my friend..
Is it true....nothing new in two weeks? Well, I just thought I would check and make sure I didn't miss anything.
Have a great weekend Ruby!
bill
- AUTHOR
Hello TT, Thank you for coming to read. I love your comment..Cheers my friend.
A very powerful poem that encompasses a very powerful and emotional story. Nicely done, AE! :)
- AUTHOR
Hello Audrey, Thank you so much. This was a story that wouldn't go away from my heart. I had to write the story. Cheers..
- AUTHOR
Hello Docmo, I think what made me more sad was the shame they must have felt. What a horrible time in our history. I feel shame today. I am pleased you commented and thought it was amazing..Thank you..
Really well done Ruby--diction is great--flow and narrative--great to see this side of your writing!
Isn't it amazing how the vehicle of poetry or a narrative conveys so much more than are facts. The horror of slavery, the sheer in humane act of being sold, the survival spirit that endured it all. The hopes, the dreams, the ability to convey the journey... All spill out of this marvellous poem, so raw, so beautiful and so much full of pain and shame. You have outdone yourself on this one, Ruby. Amazing!
- AUTHOR
Hello acaetnna, Happy to see you again. Tha slaves suffered a lot. Glad you felt it. Thank you..Cheers
Completely heartbreaking Ruby. I love your writing and have not been about for a while but this was pretty heart rendering!!
- AUTHOR
Thank you Bobbi, I agree. The human spirit is strong and no man can take it away, only when we surrender we lose. I am glad you enjoyed...
This is a terrible thing to do to any human being. But The Help shows how many years later, there is a more subtle way of treating people badly, just harder to pinpoint. Even in 2012, it goes on in many forms, and is equally as hard to pinpoint. Great poem telling og anguish and it always amazes me how the human spirit still prevails. Enjoyed this very much.
- AUTHOR
Hello junko, I think you're correct in your statement. Capitalism was made stronger by the forced labor of the Black people..Thank you for reading and commenting..Cheers.
- AUTHOR
Hello Martie, America owes the black people. It is a part of history i hate. How sad, the blacks are killing whites in africa..When are we all going to learn to live in peace and love each other? Thank's Martie for valuable input..Cheers my friend..
- AUTHOR
Hello b., Good to see you back on HP..Happy you enjoyed..Thank you my friend. Cheers
Martie, A few hundred years of free labor didn't hinder the growth of America. Capitalism and the Negro were made in America, you couldn't have one without the other.
Knowing the history of mankind - the cruel, heartless mentality of whites during previous ages - and now seeing the cruelty of uneducated blacks butchering our white farmers and vulnerable elders, one can but only know that it is going to take another couple of ages before mankind down here will reach the stage where all - except the mentally ill - MIGHT be unable to be cruel and heartless.
Touching account of a sad historical event! Voted up.
PS: I wonder where would America have been today if there were no black slaves in her history?
Ruby, what a story/poem...Sad, Poignant and so much Truth...It has my Votes of UP, Awesome, and Interesting.
- AUTHOR
Hello Ricky, I guess one had to have an evil heart to commit a horrible act such as this.. Thank you my friend..Cheers.
- AUTHOR
Hello Joseph, Happy to see you and yes, the world has survived many wrongs committed by greed and evil people. I hope we are learning..Thank you. Cheers.
Ruby, very powerful poetry. They had it rough and taken away from their home. Should have never happened. How a human could treat another as a slave, very shameful. Sharing this AE. Up, awesome, and interesting.
Along with the holocaust and Stalin, we can never stop being ashamed of ourselves. Using intelligence to decimate our humanity and this planet. Poignant and well written to the core. The words were felt as recounted by a survivor. Powerful and touching! Thanks Rubi. You are getting better at this... and we love it.
- AUTHOR
Hello Nell, Vinaya reminded me that this type of brutality exists today in other places, how sad. Thank you for coming and adding to this piece. Cheers my friend..
- AUTHOR
Hello Kathy, So good to see you, missed you on Hubpages. I am thrilled that you liked this, and i do hope people are enlightened. I feel that we should never forget the past, thus, It will never be repeated. Thank you for coming. I agree, Sam Cooke is amazing..Cheers
Hi Ruby, this was awesome and told the story so well, this time in history was such a disgrace thank goodness we are more enlightened now, but sadly it still goes on in other countries, wonderful, nell
Ruby thank you for sharing this revealing and well written glimpse into one man's life and journey to a place that he would call home - so many people either do not know or have forgotten the hell endured by an innocent people - and for what? The video is incredible! Sam Cooke is amazing. Voted up and awesome! I am sure that this piece enlightened many!
- AUTHOR
Hello Orion,, Nice to see you, Thank you my friend, Cheers..
I definitely voted up.
- AUTHOR
Hello Vinaya, I know that slavery still exists today, only in different ways. Women are still held in bondage in many societies. I believe, over time, that will change. I see women standing up for equal rights more and more. Thank you Dear friend..
- AUTHOR
Hello Ryem, Happy to meet you. I know this piece is raw, It was meant to be. Nobody could possibly write the full extent of their suffering and indignantly. Thank you for coming. Cheers..
- AUTHOR
Hello Jennifer, So nice to meet you, my your accolades are so uplifting, thank you very much. I am thankful that you were inspired. Cheers.
I have read books and watched movies on slavery. Slavery was a scar in humanity. Slavery is still present in different forms in our societies.
You have recounted the sad story wonderfully.
This is beautifully, intense poetry it's very raw and emotional. Well done...voted up
I have been directed here by CloudExplorer, and I am so glad! This is an amazing piece of writing, so powerful I am sat here in tears.... brilliant job, well done! All the votes (I wish there was an "inspiring" vote I could click). Moved beyond all words really..... wow.
- AUTHOR
I just returned from reading your piece. Thank you for linking this poetry to yours. You are a very inspiring writer. Happy to follow you. Cheers my friend..
- AUTHOR
Hello drbj, I am always happy to see you and glad you thought this piece was powerful. Thank you so much..* Cyber Hug *
- AUTHOR
Hello Cloud Explorer, Happy to meet you. Thank you so much for a wonderful expressive comment. I am thrilled..Cheers
One powerful Hub response has been served, Once again Awesome job! Exploring.
This is well-written, Ruby, and incredibly powerful. While I read it I could see that television drama, Roots," playing all over again in my head. Brava! m'dear.
This poem was sensationally written, I am preparing a response for it in a hub form, and this one for the record is going to be a show stopper for sure.
Thanks for the hub inspirations, for being so blunt with your realist words of poetic expression here, and the world needs more of this sort of creative poetry to stop and to think a bit about where our future is headed today.
Awesome job! Always Exploring, we definitely have much more then a screen name in common, you must be my kindred spirit on hubpages.
Thumbs up and getting much more then shared by me.
- AUTHOR
Hello Hyphen, You would die laughing if you knew how long it took me to rhyme wagon. HaHa Thank you for the suggestion. I forgot they didn't have trucks in the 18 th century. Cyber Hug
- AUTHOR
Hello Mhatter,Your comment, " Artfully done " inspires me. Thank you. Cheers
- AUTHOR
Hello Joyce, Yes those days have passed, Thank God. Now if we all would believe that we are all the same, just different colors and dialect. Thank you my friend..
- AUTHOR
Hello Mar, True story, I'm sure there were many more to tell..Sad time in our history. Thank you for a gracious comment..Cyber Hug*
Hello always exploring. It is very difficult to write dialect. You did it very well. Like you, I strongly believe we must never forget any atrocity. Facing it will prevent it ever happening again while we have power to stop it.
You mention a truck in the poem but that is not possible. Perhaps that word could be changed to wagon?
Congratulations. Artfully done. You've struck upon a crime and the sadness of it.
Your writing this story is so very good. Those poor people are in this country now living happily.
Voted up an awesome, Joyce
Dear Ruby,
You have a style that hits raw nerve with power, emotion and truth.
You continue to right wrongs on many levels with your free expression.
Voted UP and ABI. Love, Maria
- AUTHOR
Hello nighthag, To forget is not remembering the suffring, The humiliation of a proud people. Thank you for reading and leaving a compassionate comment.Cheers my friend..
- AUTHOR
Oh Ruchira, When i watched this documentary. my tears flowed. This must never happen again. Keep an eye on Syria. I'm afraid..Thank you my special friend..
a heartbreaking reminder of the cruelty man can inflict on each other, A great poem that highlights the tragic reality of a past that so many want to wash away as if it never happened...
omg, Ruby!
All the more reason to be thankful. It's such a sad scenario.
Sometimes, wonder how can a human do such a thing to another soul...
voted up as interesting piece!
- AUTHOR
Hello Mike, I guess this is my first to write in this manner. It seemed the right way to get the man's feelings on paper. I am happy that you think I am improving in my writing skill. I love to write, as we all do in our little community. Thank you my friend..
- AUTHOR
Hello Patricia, Two hundred years seems like a long time, but in reality, not that long ago. It i nice to meet you. Thank you for commenting..Cheers
- AUTHOR
Hello Laurinzo, You are capable of such deep understanding and you echo my thoughts so much. Your comment touches me. God bless you. Thank you my friend..
- AUTHOR
Hello Debbie, I had to write this, after watching, i went to bed and couldn't sleep, i got up and started to write. The words just seemed to erupt. Thank you. Glad you came by..Cheers
- AUTHOR
Hello Leslie, I know how you feel, madder than a hornet. I couldn't wait to write this, the injustice done to these families should never be forgotten. Thank's Pal..Always good to see you..Cheers
- AUTHOR
Hello Audrey. I am glad you thought it was touching and thank you for telling me it was one of my best. Cheers my friend..
- AUTHOR
Hello Dexter, I am so sorry this happened to your ancestors. Thank God it is in the past. Thank you for coming and leaving a wonderful comment. Cheers my friend..
- AUTHOR
Hello Graham, I was unaware that England was involved, what a pitiful shame. Thank you for reading and commenting my friend.
- AUTHOR
Hello Bill, I agree. I hope we never forget what we did as a nation. What kind of man would do that to other people? Thank you for a powerful comment..Cheers my friend
- AUTHOR
Hello Rosemary, Yes, when i watched the documentary it made me feel ill. I just had to write about it, not a pleasant topic but a sad truth. Thank you. I'm glad you liked the video choice. Cheers my friend.
You have created a terrific narrative. I think this first person approach is new to you and you have done it so well. You become more creative as your writing career progresses.
Wow....very painful to know that that was less than 200 years ago. Good work.
This is a truly touching poem always exploring. It is unfortunately not only a black man's poem; the poem of suffering of so many voices...still suffering today, tommorow, yesterday and beyond. Humanity ,the most inhumane enterprise ever conceived.
It is unfortunately doubtful that We will ever learn to love each other. Yet those of us (like yourself) who have a "higher understanding",
await His return... that is the only way we will truly "evolve".
Incredible poem , and you display your incredible humanity!
Laurinzo
Oh My your words told this horrible tale so well. How anyone can do this to anyone.. It is awful.. For Heavens sake these are God 's people being treated like that.. they have a soul.. they bleed they cry and love and they were murdered and treated miserable.. God Bless you for writing this
Debbie
this makes me sick, disgusted, ashamed...and pissed! What the F is wrong with people? Are we SOOO insecure that we have to beat on others to feel better about ourselves? Where is the human in humanity???
AWESOME poetry, Ruby - and unfortunately necessary! sharing, tweeting, voting...blahblah..
Shame on us! So very touching Ruby - one of your best!
Hi AE! Very touching account of this transgression against members
Of the human family. Thank you for sharing.
Well done Ruby. A message well made it is a disgrace that this 'trade' was carried out. We in the UK were also involved and most of the finances provided came from British sources.
Graham.
It is the sin we will never repay....the disgrace we will always carry with us as a country. Beautiful and powerful Ruby!
This is heart breaking Ruby. So many didn't even make it to America but died on the way. So many were treated like animals. It is a disgrace on the pages of history. Thank goodness times are changing.
Awesome poem and a perfect choice of music.
78