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"Ran
away, a negro man named Henry; his left eye out, some scars from a
dirk on and under his left arm, and much scarred with the whip."
"Twenty-five dollars reward for my man Isaac. He has a scar on his
forehead, caused by a blow; and one on his back, made by a shot from
a pistol."
"Ran away, a negro woman and two children. A few days before she went
off, I burnt her with a hot iron, on the left side of her face. I
tried to make the letter M."
"Ran away, a negro girl called Mary. Has a small scar over her eye,
a good many teeth missing, the letter A is branded on her cheek and
forehead."
On and on
the story goes
men treated men like livestock
with brands to hold them
to their pens
posted ads and rewards
for their return
hunted like animals
with dogs and guns and whips
these were the few
who chanced escape
the slaves who ran away in fear
afraid of being caught
yet more afraid of staying
they had little choice
yet chanced to run away
their masters mean and cruel who
branded shot whipped collared
still these would not submit
they ran toward the light of freedom
somehow hoping
they could leave behind their shackles
of shame and abuse
where did they go
what happened to them in the end
their stories lost in the cobwebs of time
we only know them by these posts
men buying and selling men
degraded all
all men damaged in the end
shame to those who stood silent
in their suffering
who would not lift a hand
to succor those poor souls
brave enough to run away. |
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