Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TOUSSAINT L'OVERTURE: HIS ANCESTRY, by GEORGE CLINTON ROWE


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TOUSSAINT L'OVERTURE: HIS ANCESTRY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A tribe surnamed the arradas
Last Line: And made his grave.
Subject(s): Africa; Toussaint L'ouverture (1743-1803)


A tribe surnamed the Arradas,
Sojourned for years, on Africa's
Southwestern coast.
Men of physique and strength of mind,
Excelling others of their kind
Among a host.

Gaou-Gwinou, the chieftain's heir,
Hunting the wild beast in his lair,
With ruthless hand,
Was seized, and hurried to the hold
Of a black ship, thence to be sold
By slaver band.

For Hayti's Isle, the ship was bound,
Which years before the Spaniards found --
Luxuriant, fair.
The land was rich in fruit and flower,
Mountains and valleys -- Nature's dower!
Oh! beauty rare!

Gaou-Gwinou was purchased here
By a French prince, and many a year
He spent -- a slave --
Upon the Breda property;
And there he reared a family
And made his grave.





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