Hello PoetryVoting

Vote

Voting-Boards

Home

HomeFollowingInboxNotifications

Read

ReadLiftedFeedsListsHeartedHistoryMy WritingNew poem

Explore

ExploreOrbitsWordsTagsClassics
Log in
0
Stars
0
Embers
0
Alerts
0
Inbox

Vote

Voting-Boards

Home

HomeFollowingInboxNotifications

Read

ReadLiftedFeedsListsHeartedHistoryMy WritingNew poem

Explore

ExploreOrbitsWordsTagsClassics
Log in
0
Stars
0
Embers
0
Alerts
0
Inbox

Dixieland Chant

by @christopher-k-bayliss

Beat the rhythm empty hand, Iron cast chains rattles command. Ol' Boss Hogg, baton raised Self righteous fool has need of praise. In order that he gain acclaim, thinks with hate, acts with shame. Human beings, commodity, ships hold stacked with those once free. Bodies piled upon high you will not see the strong ones die. Scars embedded on their backs chained and shackled to the racks. We deal in branded breathing stock, Unload black vassal from our docks. Beat the rhythm empty hands. Iron cast chains in far off lands. We keep our skivvy, wired hair blacks. We work them hard, we score their backs. They do for us, they work the field. Grow the cotton, pick the yield. Keep the body, take the mind. Labour whatever's left behind. And if demeanour does ever flinch. We'll introduce you Willie Lynch. Beat the rhythm. Empty hands Iron cast chains. Unfair demands. Beat the rhythm, shackled feet. We take their worst but can't be beat.
Request permission to use this poem
Written by
christopher-k-bayliss
For You?
Written by
christopher-k-bayliss
Published
Jul 19, 2015
Time
3m
Notes

Anybody know who Willie Lynch was? Anybody? Raise your hand. No one? He was a vicious slave owner in the West Indies. The slave-masters in the colony of Virginia were having trouble controlling their slaves, so they sent for Mr. Lynch to teach them his methods. The word "lynching" came from his last name. His methods were very simple, but they were diabolical. Keep the slave physically strong but psychologically weak and dependent on the slave master. Keep the body, take the mind.  (Melvin B Tolson)

19th  July 2015

© Copyright Christopher K Bayliss 2014

Tags
#people#rhythm#humans#slavery#shackles#chains#lynching
Permission

Request to use this poem

Tell christopher-k-bayliss how you would like to use it. We review requests before forwarding them.

AboutBlogSupportFAQPrivacyTermsContact
© 2009-2026 Hello Poetry/v27.0 [production] by @eliotyork
Explore
Hello PoetryVoting
Write