Napoleon had been fighting this army of slaves and free people in Haiti and it depleted his forces. And after the Revolution, when the French were driven out, they stopped and sold this big chunk of North America to the Americans for very little money.
quote by Edwidge Danticat
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Penal Transportation: Forgotten Gaelic Slaves
Such a nice girl
funny she never married.
Such a nice girl
money purchases only pearls.
Not so convicts
transported by merchants
auctioned off
to plantation owners
upon arrival
in the American colonies.
Penal labour
was slave labour severe
physical
punishment... included
capital
punishment by flaying.
British French Spanish
colonial empires exploited
parts of North America
as penal colonies to cheaply...
develop an economically
underdeveloped
part of a state's colonial
territories. Slavery
even disguised as indentured
servitude of youth.
Many prisoners died
from excessive
labour, hunger, disease,
medical neglect
or during escape attempts.
It is estimated that 50,000
British convicts
were sent to colonial America
approximately
one-quarter of all British
emigrants
during the 18th century.
Wisdom
Sentimentality Sincerity.
Are free
inflating hearts that cannot
be free upon arrival
in colonial territories.
Voyages in linked chains
cannot rise
above treacherous currents
past embroiled
in conflict bitter misty
sentence dark green sea.
The United Kingdom deported its convicted criminals to her penal colonies in the Americas from the 1610s until the American Revolution in the 1770s. Dr John Dunmore Lang estimated 50,000 convicts were transported to North America, originally to New England. The majority were prisoners captured in battle who originated from Ireland or Scotland. Some were sold as slaves to the Southern states. See also ‘The Saga Of A Convict Lass’ the original template poem for a collage of poems, symbolic of collective convict suffering, yet unique experiences of individuals, during the penal transportation period; ‘Money Purchases Only Pearls’, ‘Flogged Upon Rack At Sea’ and ‘Sentenced For The Term Of Her Natural Life’ by Terence George Craddock.
poem by Terence George Craddock
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Viceroy Sonata
I am the king called Viceroy
And in my ship I sail the Red Sea
All the way to North America because I want to see the other world
That the people call the American dream
But I know that is not easy to migrate to North America
Because if you want to stay you will need to apply for a green card
And you will be a gringo for the rest of your life
But I don't have any plans to live in North America
But my plans is just to visit North America and that is all
Because I am a jew and I belong in Telaviv that is my birth place
poem by Aldo Kraas
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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America In Turmoil
this country has gotten out of hand-its time for americans to take
a stand.-we let petroleum prices rule our lives.
and change the way we live.-now its time for the politicians to give.
the same way that the north and south joined forces
to become a nation.
it is time for democrats and republicans to become one.
and help the people get out from under the gun.
unity is what we need right now-but its nowheres to be found.
president bush took the oath-and made this country
his escape goat.
he took ameica to a war that was in civil strife
and had americans lose their lives.
now! he is pulling out the large profitering companies
from a hole that they created.
and used the publics money for their own personal greed.
and then says they're in need.
get rid of the ones who created this mess-let obama take the test.
if this country is in poverty-it is time to be set free.
poem by Louis Rams
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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America
My daddy told me about the old glory days
But I made up my mind about Daddy's ways
We followed King to Atlanta and got the slaves all free
And the ladies come out from behind the fans of gentry
America
America
How you've broken free
America
America
Was your destiny
I was at Daddy's bedside the night that he went
He whispered real sad "the south won't rise again"
They've all gone to Chicago to lose the slow accent
Leaving me behind wondering where we went
America
America
Are you losing your mind
America
America
Don't leave me behind
song performed by by Heart from Private Audition
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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But I think it's very key that there's a plan for Haiti. And we have to begin to - as progressives and people who are concerned about Haiti and have been concerned about Haiti, we have to begin to build some sort of consensus, a movement around the Haiti that the Haitians envision.
quote by Danny Glover
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Battle of Corunna
'Twas in the year of 1808, and in the autumn of the year,
Napoleon resolved to crush Spain and Portugal without fear;
So with a mighty army three hundred thousand strong
Through the passes of the Pyrenees into spain he passed along.
But Sir John Moore concentrated his troops in the north,
And into the west corner of Spain he boldly marched forth;
To cut off Napoleon's communications with France
He considered it to be advisable and his only chance.
And when Napoleon heard of Moore's coming, his march he did begin,
Declaring that he was the only General that could oppose him;
And in the month of December, when the hills were clad with snow,
Napoleon's army marched over the Guadiana Hills with their hearts full of woe.
And with fifty thousand cavalry, infantry, and artillery,
Napoleon marched on, facing obstacles most dismal to see;
And performed one of the most rapid marches recorded in history,
Leaving the command of his army to Generals Soult and Ney.
And on the 5th of January Soult made his attack,
But in a very short time the French were driven back;
With the Guards and the 50th Regiment and the 42d conjoint,
They were driven from the village of Elnina at the bayonet's point.
Oh! It was a most gorgeous and inspiring sight
To see Sir John Moore in the thickest of the fight,
And crying aloud to the 42d with all his might,
"Forward, my lads, and charge them with your bayonets left and right."
Then the 42d charged them with might and main,
And the French were repulsed again and again;
And although they poured into the British ranks a withering fire,
The British at the charge of the bayonet soon made them retire.
Oh! That battlefield was a fearful sight to behold,
'Twas enough to make one's blood run cold
To hear the crack, crack of the musketry and the cannon's roar,
Whilst the dead and the dying lay weltering in their gore.
But O Heaven! It was a heartrending sight,
When Sir John Moore was shot dead in the thickest of the fight;
And as the soldiers bore him from the field they looked woebegone,
And the hero's last words were "Let me see how the battle goes on."
Then he breathed his last with a gurgling sound,
And for the loss of the great hero the soldier's sorrow was profound,
Because he was always kind and served them well,
And as they thought of him tears down their cheeks trickling fell.
Oh! it was a weird and pathetic sight
As they buried him in the Citadel of Corunna at the dead of night,
While his staff and the men shed many tears
For the noble hero who had commanded them for many years.
Success to the British Army wherever they go,
For seldom they have failed to conquer the foe;
Long may the highlanders be able to make the foe reel,
By giving them an inch or two of cold steel.
poem by William Topaz McGonagall
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Im Afraid Of Americans
Johnnys in america, low-techs at the
Wheel
No-one needs anyone, they dont even
Just pretend
Johnnys in america
Im afraid of americans
Im afraid of the world
Im afraid I cant help it
Im afraid I cant
Johnnys in america
Johnny wants a brain, johnny wants to
Suck on a coke
Johnny wants a woman, johnny wants
To think of a joke
Johnnys in america
Im afraid of americans
Im afraid of the world
Im afraid I cant help it
Im afraid I cant
Johnnys in america
Johnnys in america, johnny looks up at
The stars
Johnny combs his hair and johnny
Wants pussy and cars
Johnnys in america
Im afraid of americans
Im afraid of the world
Im afraid I cant help it
Im afraid I cant
Johnnys in america
God is an american
Im afraid of americans
Im afraid of the world
Im afraid I cant help it
Im afraid I cant
Im afraid of americans
Im afraid of the words
Im afraid I cant help it
Im afraid I cant
Johnnys in america
Johnnys in america
song performed by by David Bowie
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A revolution can be neither made nor stopped. The only thing that can be done is for one of several of its children to give it a direction by dint of victories.
quote by Napoleon Bonaparte
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Disappointing Year
(a la Alex Jones!)
Everything is a lie and a cheat
And a steal.
America is (no more) honorable.
Proud to be an American? My xss!
Come off it! Where it's at is profitable.
Money, money, money, money. Crass!
All relationships are now a deal!
Money, money, money, money,
Alcohol or grass!
Demoralizing is what we see as real.
As Americans we're starting to see to fight
What must be fought to return to our birthright.
poem by Warner Treuter
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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True Soldier
You're off in war
While the love of your life is here
Be sure to come back
Be sure to come back for her
Don't forget the sights of our U.S.A.
The freedoms along with every privilege
Every privilege
Every privilege
(chorus)
You're fighting for freedom
You're fighting for rights
You're fighting to keep America in sight
Fighting for freedom
Fighting for rights
Fighting to keep my America in sight
Our affection is w/ you along w/ our pride
Keep us alive
Keep us alive
the tattoo on your arm reminds you of death
And friends who have died
The friend who has died
(chorus)
You're fighting for freedom
You're fighting for rights
You're fighting to keep America in sight
Fighting for freedom
Fighting for rights
Fighting to keep my America in sight
Down on her knees your mom prays for you
She's begging the Lord to bring you home safe
Come home safe
Please come home safe
Fly in the sky w/ all of your crew
Don't close your eyes the enemy stays true
You know what they can do
You know what they can do
(chorus)
You're fighting for freedom
You're fighting for rights
You're fighting to keep America in sight
Fighting for freedom
Fighting for rights
Fighting to keep my America in sight
*song for my amazing uncle overseas right now
America The Land Of The Free
America the land of the free.
The land of the free?
America has the highest
imprisonment
rate in the world not
just in the free world
in the entire world!
America number one
imprisonment double most contenders!
Imprison ethnic poor
imprison your citizens
double above most
imprisonment nations!
America the land of the lie
the land where dreams are sold!
The country devoting most
money into building prisons
massive state penitentiary!
A country delighting in
convictions for serious crimes!
Did you ever think
it might be cheaper?
it might be a better?
system to spent
more on health care
education crime
prevention!
America the land
that can provide
outlet liquor store
outlet gun store
within all worst
crack crime urban
areas because
we all know
alcohol guns
readily available to minors
gangs desperate people is the best
crime prevention policy in
America the land of the free?
Requested posting.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Don't Tear America Down!
Those who thinks America is finished;
Think again. Feeling dismayed that
You are not leaping ahead like before?
It is not only in America; worldwide, indeed.
America is not finished; it will be there,
Even in the dark hours of economic meltdown.
America will be there, for Americans are
Too proud, too strong willed to let
Their country go to pieces.
As their motto says:
'O Say Can You See! '
And, 'God Bless America,
Land That They Love! '
Americans truly loves America.
So, think not of a doom America
Think of a America of renewed hope,
Renewed love, and renewed faith,
For, if unbetold to you before,
God really loves America
poem by Winston Harding
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Equality... (In A Word)
equality...
in a word,
no more talk of
the 'land of the free'.
you founded this country
over the scattered bones
of 100,000,000 Native Americans.
built this country
on the backs of
African-American slaves,
and poor Scotch-Irish refugees,
who turned your earth,
and built your homes.
'give me your tired, your poor...'
more cheap labor?
to build your cities,
your railroads, work your steel.
how many faceless bodies buried
in your cold dark mines?
how many second class young men
sent off to war?
how many women paid less,
treated as less?
how many farmworker immigrants
paid too little,
treated like trash?
how many slum children
sent off to prison?
how many lives sold off
for bottom line profit?
disembodied jobless,
driven from their homes?
how many minimum wage slaves
praying for food stamps?
how many 'cant afford an education'
futures written in stone?
how many sparrows on the fence?
you want to honor those who've served?
all of these,
the people who have served you!
who have met your needs!
Memorial Day, an epitaph!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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America.... Revolution, Or The Fall!
America, America,
your pale skinned death testifies!
the cross of your democracy laid down,
the blood on your hands names your guilt.
your bodies laid in soldiers' graves,
strewn across your planted fields.
while wild fires rage,
and your tenements boil,
as your children march to death.
the poverty of indifference,
strikes the bell that cannot ring.
while the wealthy drink the blood
of your disembodied men.
and your hallowed god turns his face,
disgusted by what he's seen.
blood sacrifices on your borders,
blood sacrifices in your mills.
your families driven from their homes,
while your prisons turn the wheel.
and the hungry walk your streets
wearing familiar shoes.
the haunting cry of liberty,
rattles against your walls.
while justice is bought and sold
in your sacred halls!
and the colors of eguality,
bleed into your angry streets.
your schools struck numb
by propaganda's thumb,
your daughters sold like meat.
America, America,
revolution, or the fall!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The French Revolution liberated people from the power of the aristocrats. But the bourgeoisie that took over represented the exploitation of man by man, and had to be destroyed — as in the Russian Revolution, which then degenerated into totalitarianism, Stalinism, and genocide. The more you make revolutions, the worse it gets. Man is driven by evil instincts that are often stronger than moral laws … there is a higher order, but man can separate himself from it because he is free — which is what we have done. We have lost the sense of this higher order, and things will get worse and worse, culminating perhaps in a nuclear holocaust — the destruction predicted in the Apocalyptic texts. Only our apocalypse will be absurd and ridiculous because it will not be related to any transcendence. Modern man is a puppet, a jumping jack.
quote by Eugene Ionesco
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Fighting for America
“Fighting for America”
I am Fighting for America. I wonder if I’ll live for another day. I hear the shooting of the guns. I see the bombs busting in air. I want to make a difference. I am Fighting for America. I wonder if I’ll live for another day. I pretend not to be scared. I feel cold. I tough the coldness of the gun. I worry if I’ll live or die. I cry cause I don’t want to leave my family behind. I am Fighting for America. I wonder if I’ll live for another day. I understand why we fight. I just say why. I dream of a perfect life. I try to make it true. I hope for a peaceful life. I am Fighting for America. I wonder if I’ll live for another day.
John D Barton
poem by John D Barton
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Templars Of Steel
The hands of time have brought you here
To make a change, to break down the walls
You are the ones and you are the only
Trying to live by your own goals
And you all cry for freedom
Raise your fists to the sky
Let your voice speak for the revolution
All join forces with all the powers that you feel
Let your heart beat for the revolution
Led by the templars of steel
Lets spread the word of the sole survivors
With metal pounding inside their souls
The fire burns, and it will forever
Blaze for the ones who stands strong
And you all cry for freedom
With your fists in the sky
Let your voice speak for the revolution
All join forces with all the powers that you feel
Let your heart beat for the revolution
Led by the templars of steel
You are the templars of steel
Oh, oh, oh ...
Let your voice speak for the revolution
All join forces with all the powers that you feel
Let your heart beat for the revolution
Led by the templars of steel
Let your voice speak for the revolution
All join forces with all the powers that you feel
Let your heart beat for the revolution
Led by the templars of steel
You are the templars of steel
song performed by by Hammerfall
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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America
(Francis Scott Key)
Oh, say, can you see
By the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed
At the twilight's last gleaming
Whose broad stripes and bright stars
Through the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watched were so
Gallantly streaming?
America, America, America
America, America, America
And the rocket's red glare
The bombs bursting in air
Gave proof through the night
That our flag was still there
Oh, say, does that star
Spangled banner yet wave
Over the land of the free
And the home of the brave!
America, America, America
America, America, America
America, America, America
America, America, America
America, America, America
America, America
ooohhh
song performed by by Lou Reed
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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We Are America
Soldiers standing strong
standing to protect us all
Never giving up faith
never quitting on us
Fighting hard and long
Fighting far and strong
As the soldiers fall they'll never be forgotten
Their memories will keep them here
in our minds and in our hearts
They'll forever be alive
The wars we've fought and the lives we live
The things we do and the things we've done
These are the things
That make us who we are...America
We Are America
The proud, the free and the strong
We Are America
The red, the white and the blue
We Are America
The United States of America.
poem by Brandon Smith
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In America
Only in America
We're slaves to be free
Only in America we kill the unborn
To make ends meet
Only in America
Sexuality is democracy
Only in America we stamp our god
"In God We Trust"
What is right or wrong
I don't know who to believe in
My soul sings a different song
In America
What is right or wrong
I don't know who to believe in
My soul sings a different song
In America
song performed by by Creed from My Own Prison
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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