They were considered not human
By those whose hearts were made of stone,
By those of the same skin color,
By those of whom abuse-condoned.
They were not treated as people –
Five sterlings were they thought as worth,
And although God said otherwise,
They were considered cheap from birth.
No respect for Irish persons
Did the Irish slave owner have,
For the child could be kept far
Away from the one he called “Dad.”
Violence and murder were not crimes
If committed against the slave,
But why? Were they to be abused?
Burned? hit? If they did not behave?
These Irish men, women, and kids
Are forgotten by history,
And erased from the sands of time.
Please, remember their sad story!
No event goes out of the mind
Of the God who sees ev’ryone;
Who shares in their tears and bad times!
No, not one trial, not one crime!
~ Written by D. E. Nieland ~
Poetry