01 August 2009

villanelle for emancipation day

free folk who turn their backs on the sweet cane

for bitter striving on the mountainside

don't count hard labour now as any pain


 

since now there is good reason to hold strain

while men on horseback dare not shout nor chide

free folk who turn their backs on the sweet cane


 

whose feet are moving uphill from the plain

towards the places where they used to hide

don't count hard labour now as any pain


 

when it's all yours when none of it's in vain

as hopes are reached and none of them denied

free folk who turn their backs on the sweet cane


 

have seas to cross and great dreams to attain

their inner voices have made them decide

don't count hard labour now as any pain


 

they will not fall back to bondage again

but face the world with proper joy and pride

free folk who turn their backs on the sweet cane

don't count hard labour now as any pain

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