Thomas

I seen him up and I seen him down, working on my field from morning to dawn. His shoulders were broad and strong, He wore a white beater and black pants.I seen him pick the cotton from the field.

I only spoke to him maybe once or twice where my father couldn't see me. Sometime I would sneak him water and bread doing his work hours when my father left me in charge. Thomas was his name.

I seen him up and I seen him down, working on my field from morning to dawn. Thomas was a man of religion and color, he had a good heart, but soon I figure it would break because of the many lynchings.

Whenever I speak with Thomas, he would tell me it's what God wanted and this I didn't understand. I was confused on what it meant by that. One day we were caught by my father's cousin and Thomas was lynched 5 times. I was forced to leave that afternoon to my aunt in New Orleans. Two days later, I recieved word that Thomas was dead.

I've seen him up and I've seen him down, worked on my field from morning to dawn. He was not my slave nor I his master, but a friend I was and a friend he was.