Northern Slaves

In the silent breathing of night, treading through the darkness and the hush (A heavy band of slave) like black ants snaking through the forlorn distance. Grieving with tears Of yesterdays burning anguish. They hum a languid song On the fragrant breath of wind. A haunt that invades my trembling eyes With a thousand boundless tears That quivers through the night. The dreaded echoes came down the black pathway Like a thousand men Galloping through the sultry breeze (Were the heartless whips that toiled) With dumb hands, Feeding paled pink flesh With endless stings of cruel misery. The stars curled around their naked feet As they trampled the grass Wet with lurid dew and the masked Beds of fragrant hues Prancing in the hallowed night. I could feel the storming of their sorrows, The rock of their heart Drooping with defeat. Despair a master to their fading hope That sailed across their faces. Oh those foul notes budding with despair Branched within their eyes. The lulling whispers of their shackles United with their treading feet like hooves Cloaked with heavy weariness (It surrounded the dead of night) I hung up my fears For I was bright with their pain Oh I died that day Oh I died that day While drifting to the helpless East To that damp cold earth filled With drowsy mournful Asters Then the smell of dead men came alive Black dogs clustered to the earth Their children beside them with gripping hands!