The Baas called all the slaves together
This had not happened before
Thought Marta,
Never.
He told them "stay quiet"
"And you bow your head"
He took out a paper
From which he then read.
"The law has decreed"
"That all slaves should be freed"
"But it won't be tomorrow"
"Or even next year"
"So you carry on working"
"Make sure that is clear"
"If you start to get lazy"
"You'll still feel the whip"
But all Marta could feel
Was her heart start to skip.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Owain Glyn
