THE STOLEN GOODS

Brown hands are red in the white sea 
Picking white things in the scorching yellow 
Tired drops of sweat fall from the bodies 

Skin deep beauty stolen from the Mother Land 
Forced to travel in hell on water 
Brought to the White Land to serve the superior 

Cry little girl don't you stop 
For your mami and daddy are rotting fruits on a tree 
Soon master will grab your brown neck with his white claws 

Billie Holiday sweetly sang in Strange Fruit: 
"Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh 
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh" 

The stolen goods 

Properties in a land where color is sin 

But now they are spirits and alive in death 
For in Heaven power voices sweetly sing: "FREEDOM AT LAST!

Author's Note

Look up the song Strange Fruit by Billie Holiday on YouTube

Reviews

[R J Askew]

I sometimes feel a bit like this >> For your mami and daddy are rotting fruits on a tree
I think of my kids and feel myself receding from the fore of life as they grow more vigorous. But this is as it should be.

[Heromen Selena]

Very powerful word choice that you used. Nicely done.

[EMMIE]

Thank you!

[olla]

I have always liked Billie Holiday.. I heard "Strange Fruit" years ago.. She was quite a woman..

[EMMIE]

Beautiful, and inspirational, perfect metaphors of transience here.
It is all that is strange that attracts us isn't it?
I really loved this piece, Em!

xo E.L.

[EMMIE]

Thank you much dear :D your reviews are always so honest and sweet

You're so welcome. :) dear poetess, I love your work, and background work, in it. It says much about you, as a person! a wonderful person!

[EMMIE]

Thank you =)

[zainul]

Dear Emmie,
I adore you for recreating gruesome scene of the merciless torture on human being based on the famous song Strange Fruit by Billie Holiday .
Such crimes have not stopped yet.Hence the utility of this song exists till today.
Your poem is a superb write.It is inspired by the song,yet very original in its presentation.
Congratulations!!!
Best regards,
Zainul

[EMMIE]

Your view means much to me and I am glad you listened to the song, I think that not enough people out there know about it. It's not for everybody, not all people can take or bare to listen to the sadness and creepy feeling it creates. But history is in that song! Thanks again!

[zainul]

Thanks for the wonderful poem,awesome song and a great lesson.
Best wishes for all of your families and friends.

[EMMIE]

Thank you!

[faint smile]

this is a very powerful and well thought out piece I really enjoyed. Thankyou

[EMMIE]

Hey Just A person! Thank you much!

[Chris]

Quite a class act...

[kublakhan27]

I cannot think of a more fitting compliment to Holiday's emotionally-charged sentiments.

[EMMIE]

Thanks. That song gives me the creepiest feeling ever and it's has so few words, yet it is so deep. Billie is my favorite jazz singer of all time

[kublakhan27]

You're welcome...sometimes a singer's voice is all that's needed to realize they are truly bearing their heart and soul, even before the words fully sink in...and her own story was the saddest and most haunting of all.

[Neva Flores Smith - Cha..]

absolutely fantastic............

[EMMIE]

thank you dear

[The Analog Kid]

Powerful words about slavery and the despair of that time. Cool idea to incorporate the song:)

[EMMIE]

Thank youuuuuuu

[The Analog Kid]

anytime!