Simon+Malone+poems

= Freedom =

by Andi Schweers

Freedom One want, one need I dreamt every night of someday Someday Then someday became today, Right now

Freedom One man, one journey I crept away in the night to the North. The North! But the North wouldn’t take us. Not us.

Freedom One country, one fight All I wanted was to fight, to help. Just to help. It wasn’t good enough for them, Not my help

Freedom Two races, one army And so I fought for my brothers. For my brothers Still wrapped in chains, Freedom awaits.

=The Southern Wild=

Edessa Brown

I was born in the southern wild, Blackberries, cream crops, and dusty roads. We dreamt we fled to some green valley land, But every once in a while we awoke to the realization that we are just slaves, And this is more of just desert land. Shackles trifled from my legs, and the light, and the wind, and my heart, my heart was beating so fast I was a free slave, no. I was not a slave, I was free. I slipped my arms through a blue suit with golden buttons. In my free hands was a Hawkins rifle and I was to be in the Union Army. But this moment was seized; this moment lived so shortly I don’t think I had taken one whole breath ' before cold white hands placed rusty bronze chains around my wrist. Once again we dreamt of a land that reflected vibrant rays upon our faces But we woke once again to the realization that we are just slaves, And there is nothing more but a shadow out over this land. Shackles trifled from my legs, and the grass, and the rain, and my heart, my heart was beating so fast. I was free, again! My skin was hot and sweat poured from my forehead as warm blood crawled down my leg. Instead of slipping my hands through a blue suit with golden buttons; I laid my back against a somber land in which reflected vibrant rays upon my face.

Simone Malone By: Chris Michels Runaway slave, I ran to the north in the hope of freedom I found it here in Illinois. Then the War Between the States began And I signed up find to fight for the north. Captured during the war, In bondage again, Chained and shankled, no way out. Then I run again, Fleeing to the north, To Bloomington where I find haven. Finally free and safe, Yet a wounded man, crippled. I spend my long years in soldier’s homes, ‘Til finally I pass, and old man, free from bonds.