The Door of No Return

THE DOOR OF NO RETURN (House of Slaves-Goree Island-West Africa)

They came by the thousands, flowing in a black river of pain, all bound in rusty shackles and chain.

Their weeping and moaning still echoes in the bloody halls of that infamous house of horrors.

Their freedom crushed, bondage is there for all their tomorrow’s.

Their lives were about to change forever, their bodies and souls were sold for a handful of gold.

The West Winds filled the sun bleached canvas, as the large wooden hull lunged through the thick sea foam…

All that could be heard was their little sobs and horrific moans.

The horrors of the trip, would soon be traded for the sting of the Overseers whip.

On the block they stood, side by side, young and old.

Their families split, when the auctioneer yelled… "SOLD!"

Tears still flowed from their ancestor's souls.

Their culture lost forever more… once they walked through that foreboding door…

The door of NO return.

Jackie R. Kays
Copyright ©1999

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The Door of No Return

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