School: Oldcastle (C.) (roll number 12489)
- Location:
- An Seanchaisleán, Co. na Mí
- Teacher: Máire D. Ní Nualláin
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0716, Page 030
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- XML “The Negro's Complaint”
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- The Negro's ComplaintA very touching piece referring to the time when the negroes were torn from their home, wives, and children, and sold in the slave market.A golden-eyed Titan o'er ocean was peeping,
And West India odours gave health in the breeze,
Beneath a palm shade, a poor Negro sat weeping.
His fortune bewailing in words such as these:
Oh! hard is my fate that I ever was born,
And cursed be the evening in which I was torn
From friends, wife and parents, and since left forlorn
A stranger to comfort, joy, freedom and ease!
11
From youth, in my own native forest secluded,
And bred to the use of the club, bow and spear,
Upon my oppressors I never intruded,
And injured, thru' life, but the wild bird and dear,
Till white men, one evening, by trifles betrayed me
From my peaceful home, and a prisoner made me
And hither, o'er ocean, a captive conveyed me,
And sold me to monsters, who torture me here!(continues on next page)
