Representative Poetry Online
On this day: June 12th
Random Poem of the Day
A Sugar Planter in the Interior Parts of Jamaica, Near the City of San Jago de la Vega, (Spanish Town), 1784
1 If there exists a hell – the case is clear –
2 Sir Toby’s slaves enjoy that portion here:
3 Here are no blazing brimstone lakes – ‘tis true;
4 But kindled Rum too often burns as blue;
5 In which some fiend, whom nature must detest,
6 Steeps Toby’s brand, and marks poor Cudjoe’s breast.
7 Here whips on whips excite perpetual fears,
8 And mingles howlings vibrate on my ears:
9 Here nature's plagues abound, to fret and teaze,
10 Snakes, scorpions, despots, lizards, centipees –
11 No art, no care escapes the busy lash;
12 All have their dues -- and all are paid in cash --
13 The eternal driver keeps a steady eye
14 On a black herd, who would his vengeance fly,
15 But chained, imprisoned, on a burning soil,
16 For the mean avarice of a tyrant, toil!
17 The lengthy cart-whip guards this monster’s reign –
18 And cracks, like pistols, from the fields of cane.
19 Ye powers! who formed these wretched tribes, relate,
20 What had they done, to merit such a fate!
22 To see that plenty which they must not taste –
23 Food, which they cannot buy, and dare not steal;
24 Yams and potatoes – many a scanty meal! –
25 One, with a gibbet wakes his negro’s fears,
26 One to the windmill nails him by the ears;
27 One keeps his slave in darkened dens, unfed,
28 One puts the wretch in pickle ere he’s dead:
29 This, from a tree suspends him by the thumbs,
30 That, from his table grudges even the crumbs!
31 O’er yond’ rough hills a tribe of females go,
32 Each with her gourd, her infant, and her hoe;
33 Scorched by a sun that has no mercy here,
34 Driven by a devil, whom men call overseer –
35 In chains, twelve wretches to their labours haste;
36 Twice twelve I saw, with iron collars graced! –
37 Are such the fruits that spring from vast domains?
38 Is wealth, thus got, Sir Toby, worth your pains! –
39 Who would your wealth on terms, like these, possess,
40 Where all we see is pregnant with distress –
41 Angola’s natives scourged by ruffian hands,
42 And toil’s hard product shipp’d to foreign lands.
43 Talk not of blossoms, and your endless spring;
44 What joy, what smile, can scenes of misery bring? –
45 Though Nature, here, has every blessing spread,
46 Poor is the labourer – and how meanly fed! –
47 Here Stygian paintings light and shade renew,
48 Pictures of hell, that Virgil’s pencil drew:
49 Here, surly Charons make their annual trip,
50 And ghosts arrive in every Guinea ship,
51 To find what beasts these western isles afford ,
52 Plutonian scourges, and despotic lords: --
53 Here, they, of stuff determined to be free,
55 Beyond the clouds, in sculking haste repair,
Notes
21] "A small negro kingdom near the river Senegal" (poet's note). Back to Line
54] "The mountains northward of Kingston" (poet's note). Back to Line
56] "Alluding to the Independent negroes on the blue mountains, who for a stipulated reward, deliver up every fugitive that falls into their hands, to the English Government" (poet's note). Back to Line