by Frances E. W. Harper · 1872
Poetry · Classics
A cycle of poems in the voice of Aunt Chloe, a freedwoman who tells of the war, of the end of slavery and of building a life afterwards. By Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.
Content note: Written in 1872, these poems are partly in dialect and describe slavery; they use language of their time that is offensive today.
I remember, well remember, That dark and dreadful day, When they whispered to me, “Chloe, Your children’s sold away!”
It seemed as if a bullet Had shot me through and through, And I felt as if my heart-strings Was breaking right in two.
And I says to cousin Milly, “There must be some mistake; Where’s Mistus?” “In the great house crying— Crying like her heart would break.
“And the lawyer’s there with Mistus; Says he’s come to ’ministrate, ’Cause when master died he just left Heap of debt on the estate.
4“And I thought ’twould do you good To bid your boys good-bye— To kiss them both and shake their hands, And have a hearty cry.
“Oh! Chloe, I knows how you feel, ’Cause I’se been through it all; I thought my poor old heart would break, When master sold my Saul.”
Just then I heard the footsteps Of my children at the door, And I rose right up to meet them, But I fell upon the floor.
And I heard poor Jakey saying, “Oh, mammy, don’t you cry!” And I felt my children kiss me And bid me, both, good-bye.
Then I had a mighty sorrow, Though I nursed it all alone; But I wasted to a shadow, And turned to skin and bone.
