The minute was good enough

Poem by Dana Littlepage Smith

Photo: A set of shackles used in the Middle Passage slave route from Africa to the Americas

Yet what of that time can be explained?
Are we engaged or are we looking away?
Can we expunge her eyes as she looked back

from the boat shipping her to Barbados without husband,
friend or child? Sweet Parthenia did you have faith in us,
the unborn, friends to go in search of your name?

You need to login to read subscriber-only content and/or comment on articles.