April Poetry: How He Ended Slavery in the Southern Provinces

In recognition of Poetry Month, and to celebrate our treasure trove of Orcas Island poets, Orcas Issues is pleased and honored to offer daily poetry during April.

HOW HE ENDED SLAVERY IN THE SOUTHERN PROVINCES
by David Kobrin

adapted from a childhood incident in The Journal of John Woolman (1720 – 1772), an American Quaker

With a thrown stone, I killed a robin
a mother robin.
When the stone hit, I heard bones crunch
winter ice cracking
a tiny pond.

Taking mercy on her abandoned
young ones
I climbed the tree and killed them
too, thinking
“The tender mercies of the wicked
are cruel.”

The place I sat remains in memory:
the rock, the ash tree that threw its shadow;
the willow bough;
my shoes, black on the dandelions.
Thoughts of the cruelties committed.

My soul became
a weaned child.