The shame oh the shame
seeping from the pores
of our pale pink skins
every man,
woman and child
suffering bound in chains
enough to make
any mind go wild
the shame oh the shame
seeping from the pores
of our pale pink skins
every man, woman and child have dreamed
of their forefathers
recalling tales of yesteryear
and such better days than here!
the shame oh the shame
seeping from the pores
of our pale pink skins
dear blessed Mother of God
pray for our mortal sins
of absolution
we are not worthy
tainted by our greed
we must make restitution
for sins that were commissioned
will there ever be resolve
in our own privileged life span
and centuries we have robbed them all
due respect and compassion?
the shame oh the shame
seeping from the pores
of our pale pink skins
blessed Divine Mother, please,
pray for our mortal sins
© Tournesol’17/11/11
Daily moments November 11/17 slaves no more
Written for Mocropoetry Month
I was trying to watch 12 Years a Slave and could not watch half, it was too difficult and so My muse took over…
This started free flow but noticed there were many senryu and tanka within. What was most important for me was to release these thoughts.
Tournesol dans un Jardin 
This is a tough subject. My great grandfather fought for the south. That requires I be doubly reconciling.
LikeLike
Oh Janice, I think anyone in the entire world who has people in their country or state who owned slaves feel guilty. When I read The PoisonWood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, I walked around feeling ashamed to be white for months. And this happened in the Congo when I was 10! I am also in a fragile mood of late, so maybe I will read the book instead at my own pace.
LikeLike
This is an important piece Cheryl Lynn… the continued exclusion of fellow humans is something for which we collectively still share responsibility in this time and age… there’s despair and passion in your poem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is shame that we are all part of one race; there is no such thing as more than one race other than human race and the pigmentation of our skins; the culture and language colours our societies but does not define each person…we are all the same.
I put off watching the move 12 years a slave because I wanted to read the book…I will read it as it is part of our history…our human history. I felt the same shame after reading The PoisonWood Bible for months feeling such shame and despair.
LikeLike
I so agree… there’s only one race.. the human race and that’s that.
LikeLiked by 1 person