Scenes From A Plantation

Butterflies lifted up with tissue paper wings
Fly across the meadow while the gladiolas sing
Magnolia blossoms cover the winding trail
Scenting the air with sachets of Southern Bells
As they stroll along in the morning air
In big hooped dresses that sway from here to there
Talking about the next tea time and pecan pie
Hoping to catch some young gentleman's eye
Fans flutter as eyelashes wink
Pinched cheeks turning from pale to pink
Lips that pout with just a hint of color
After picking a peach and savoring the flavor
Enjoying the sight of all that white cotton
Never noticing the labor of the slaves...
Forgotten!
~~
No-see-ums bite along the nape of the neck
Red and itching from the summer insects
Thorns pierce the flesh as each child learns
Sweat pours into the fresh wound and it burns
Picking the cotton is a backbreaking task
As the slaves do just as the slave master asks
But ask he does not, for it is a demand
Jump you must to each of his commands
Or the whip you'll receive across your back
Just because your color happens to be black.
Never knowing the life of freedom or true worth
Because of being raised on a plantation since birth
Fear the Master and give to the Mister
Bring them their necessary items and your sister
For she will be whatever he wants her to be
And she will be his concubine you see
Bringing another little baby mixed in color
But never sharing in the wealth of his brothers
And he will be all but forgotten
As he labors, picking the Master's
Cotton!

Kathy Lockhart
6/11/06






Poetry by Kathy Lockhart
Read 935 times
Written on 2006-06-12 at 00:03

Tags Racism  Slavery  Plantation 

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lastromantichero The PoetBay support member heart!
Katherine my darling i just had to read this again my angel it is a very poerful text that ably exposes the cruelty of the slavery culture well done on your creative skill and your beautiful compassion.
I truly love you endlessly xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxylk ly
2008-03-16


Mark J. Wood
Grotesquely wonderful and so evocative - but, not of history, of now; only the dresses have changed. There is just a chance, though, and your poem is the essence of that chance.
2006-12-11


salem
yes we need this writing
thanx
2006-12-10


amandeep
yes, nice,amazing.
"""Talking about the next tea time and pecan pie
Hoping to catch some young gentleman's eye
Fans flutter as eyelashes wink
Pinched cheeks turning from pale to pink
Lips that pout with just a hint of color.................................""""

the best
2006-11-26


Will
+5+5
2006-08-15


Will
SIMPLY PUT, A MASTERPIECE!!!!
2006-08-15


Lourdes
Alice Walker had a way of putting me right in the slave-history scene. You do it just as well as she. This history is so important it is not history yet. Telling it like you just did, describing, displaying every color and smell with the linger of your words is such a rare gift to have. You ~simply grandiose.
2006-06-12


Dan Cederholm
*

Ring freedom bell ring

freedom for the black people . . .

and nothing less . . .

Hugs . . . Dan!!!


*
2006-06-12


Benny Strukelj
This I like:)
2006-06-12


Malin Johansson
This is a very strong piece of poetry and the images you gave me were awsome...
Sunny regards from sweden...
2006-06-12


lastromantichero The PoetBay support member heart!
kathy you sure can get these poems so evocative and powerful with your use of words well done regards mike
2006-06-12


Onyeka Nwelue
Thank you so much Kathy. Though, you might have a different view of what you have written, but to me, it is relieving.

Shas got the right way to describe it, and it is this abrupt colonisation that has destroyed my own country...and to me, I feel that colonisation is racism and the feel for superiority, which has done lots of harm to us...

Your convictions are pure and you are one of the best poets I have ever read. Thank you so much, and I think you should find time and visit my blog, to see some of the articles that I have written lately about this colonisation and racism stuff.
2006-06-12


Zoya Zaidi
Sorry for the typo: Master's Roosters is the expression.
Did I rate it?
It is: 10!
**Hugs**
Love,Z
2006-06-12


Zoya Zaidi
Yes, I remember those terrible days,
They're not just 'read about'
But in my heart engraved:
When women were considered more
Precious then men, because they were
Potential bearers of new slaves!
When the slaves had no names,
But were usually called:
" Sam-1 and Sam-2", and that is all!
When even the 'Master's' Rooters
Were called:" Mr. So and So"!
When children had no fathers, and
There was no need too, since they did not count,
The number was the 'Masters' would heed!
Yes, I remember those terrible days!!!

Yes, I remember those terrible days!!!

**hugs**
Kathy this is awesome!!
I am speechless!!!
Send it to UNO!
Love, xxx, Zoya
2006-06-12


Teala
This is one of your best, my friend. It displays the fluffy part of that time in history that a lot of people would want us to remember...and the second part reminds us that times were truely horrible then. Great job--I am VERY into history, so I especially loved it for that reason!!
2006-06-12


Shas Ramlogan
kathy, I am very grateful for this piece on cruelty in history. Trinidad was once a colonised nation, and slavery still conforms many echelons of our society, though to a much more sly and vicious way. Through the circumstances of your position, this is a very compassionate and understanding write. Thanks.
2006-06-12


.
A stunning visualisation of a period in history and a fantastic piece of writing!
**bookmarked**
2006-06-12