The winds start from the Ivory Coast,
churning a path in the Atlantic
and the criminal voyage victimizes,
the sons and daughters of Egypt
our first Kings and Queens becomes a lineage lost.
A new world too the west,
clouds of oppression form,
the identity of the motherland is stripped away,
royalty is reduced to surfs and peasants
black skin sweats and bleed under Eurocentric tyranny.
Property of a newly rich and elite minority,
children of the middle passage are bread for labor and twisted pleasure.
Centuries fades and chains rusted,
the conscience now bearing scars of abuse
we are still lost in the new world--
victims still of the passing storm
However, the wind blowing from the east, always carries the memories of home.
Author notes
I used this poem as inspiration.
Reconnaissance
by Arna Bontemps
After the cloud embankments,
the lamentation of wind
and the starry descent into time,
we came to the flashing waters and shaded our eyes
from the glare.
Alone with the shore and the harbor,
the stems of the cocoanut trees,
the fronds of silence and hushed music,
we cried for the new revelation
and waited for miracles to rise.
Where elements touch and merge,
where shadows swoon like outcasts on the sand
and the tried moment waits, its courage gone—
there were we
in latitudes where storms are born.
A contest entry
- Harlem Renaissance Reunion - A Contest by poetryality.
1750 points, ended March 30, 2008, 4 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - imitation by Just-Meghan.
460 points, ended April 22, 2008, 6 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 9 of 9
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O yeah a Gold fur sure. So many true historic points in this one. With the feel of social poetry. Yes we show no signs of the physical chains but the mental chains are still shackled to many of us. very well done and congrats my friend
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BRAVO!
I read both poems twice. I easily feel the inspiration you garnered from "Reconnaissance" what a title, I can see how it lured you. LOL
Your words are finely crafted. They spin and whir startling images of atrocities without any semblance of hope. Although, we do feel it coming throughout the read. Finally, the last lines delivers that dream emphatically.
Brilliantly composed! Bontemps would be proud, I think.
Thank you for this entry, and I wish you the best in the challenge.
Much Love & Respect ♥
Renee
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Well done, a thoughtful interpretation of Bontemps poem, and with a very original spin. Nice use of the storm and wind movement to show the progression of events. Thanks for this entry!
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You did a great job paralleling the original poem. Watch the spelling:
"the stems of the cocoanut trees," coconut is the proper spelling.
Good luck in the contest.
John
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Very well-written. Your poem has an epic quality, in the sense of movement and sweep. You really convey the tragic tides of history in this excellent piece.
Bill
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Great spin on the poem that inspired you. i love it! best of luck in the contest.
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Very picturesque write. I could see, hear and even get a scent of the images portrayed here. A nice take on the words of a masterful write. thanx, conni
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Well done, poet. I truly appreciate the references and metaphors in the body. You made me proud. Oh, lawd, I is about to cry! Seriously, I loved this. Um... For those (not so much for me but my partners, I hang out with some old folgies--I'm only 18) with old or aging eyes though, can you puh-lease change the colors to something easier? Thank you for entering. Good luck and God bless. One.
Dez -
well done, reflecting the Arna Bontemps spirit of a journey to an unwanted place and life where even nature and knowledge of the world seemed to be of little consequence, very well written, wonderful expression...PK
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