Letters to Marion (And the Coming Generations)

Spear and Shield

2 Letters to Marion (And the Coming Generations) Spear and Shield I lost my spear, I lost my shield When in my teens The battle of the world Was at its prime. Where will I hide my head in a searing world When death shut him in the grave? Many Julys since I peep thro’ the mousy mound through the rotting boards with sighs and salty tears Where Asaba Nkemngong’s remnants lie... the mungo the anchored barges on our shores, their carousing sails in mournful westward winds the hooting of an owl an evil song in the thickets a full ripe moon its radiance in the ocean (that widest road to slavery) there was greed in that madrush of howling waves that auctioned me from my cradle our quifons for they stood resolute and wore black caps and red feathers, pulled the oars for the slavers swearing they’d drown the river mungo ...