Slave Owner / My Reflection | Teen Ink

Slave Owner / My Reflection

October 23, 2009
By chellygen SILVER, Lynbrook, New York
chellygen SILVER, Lynbrook, New York
5 articles 1 photo 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
Heroes get remembered, but legends never die. Follow your heart, and you can never go wrong.<br /> - The Sandlot -


They say I’m a monster…no love in my heart.
Taking these lives and tearing them apart.
I feel no remorse, no hearts will bleed.
They work for me and for what I need.

Late at night I sometimes think they’re probably right,
But hell, I don’t care. We all have to fight.
I need to survive, I need the job can’t you see?
Life has never been fair, warm or free…

They’re my property now, I’ve paid for their lives.
Do you think I really care if these kids live or die?
I don’t talk to them, they seem all the same.
I know them by their eyes, never by name.

I can’t get “soft” and think of them,
They can leave when they become men.
Those little bastard kids, they better get to work.
I’ll throw them in the water, I’ll throw them in the dirt.

I have to push down my feelings, I need to get by.
It has always been my way so I could survive.
I ask you, “How is this wrong?”, “How could this be?”
I mean, not to long ago that little boy was me.

The author's comments:
How can slavery exist today? What kind of person has children work for them by being cruel? Sadly, these slave owners were once slave children themselves so it is a vicious cycle that needs to be broken. Check out my charity's website @ www.oneisgreaterthannone.org

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This article has 3 comments.


karenlee said...
on Nov. 19 2009 at 6:50 pm
The writer as in her other poems gets inside peoples heads and hearts. It is wonderful to go there with her... even if it is heartbreaking.

on Nov. 10 2009 at 4:10 pm
This is such an interesting poem. It shows how complex the situation of the fisherman really is. It's amazing that the poet was able to get me to sympathize with the fisherman. fabulous work!

jplanet said...
on Nov. 7 2009 at 11:07 am
written beautifully...but soooo sad!!!!!!!!