in memory of a slave ship

a conduit, a vessel, a womb full of life i was
i've borne forth children both great and small
in the bow of my haul i was pregnant
my stomach ached of chains and swell
crammed with cries of bitter tears
prayers to a god i know not which)
pain, birth pains of a people
a great people to be
they were within me

i conceived on a dark ancient shore
i saw them raped! violated! stolen!
against their will i conceived a nation a
nd brought them to the new world
but many have been slain
put to death by men who violate-mocks
the pain of a people
dangling like ornaments on a tree
i wept for those within me

as best i could, i carried my children
i heard their cries within me
chained people-kicked and screamed
yearned to sing, to dance, to play the drums
to come out and see the sky
to be with loved ones under the sun
to see the rolling hills, the wild plains
to run-to run once more
to be free!

but, they lied there stacked/ cargo/ within me
side by side, shoulder to shoulder head to foot,
foot to foot knee to head, head to side
foot to side, side to knee
i could do nothing but carry them along

on the vast emptiness of the sea
docking on an alien shore
to give birth to an oppressed people
the one yearning to be free
a great people to be
they were within me