For Lucy Barrow, Revolutionary

-- convicted & hanged at Jerusalem, September 26, 1831

By Rudolph Lewis

How nature blessed you, Black Woman

You in love with promises of a preacher man

Old as the age of prophets

O Red Bandanna Lady

Last Sunday, you heard him prophesy

A star-crossed heaven of black and white

Lights, blood dripping from the heavens

In shapes of men in different attitudes

And hieroglyphics and of Christ laying down

The cross for us to bear. You walked the road

To Jerusalem’s hill, your soul in mid-air, the hand

Of God upon the Serpent’s throat, His sword

High to cover the sun, turning autumn colors

Hold on Sweet Lucy! Hold on night and day!

Hold on Dear Lucy, to your lovely Mistress!

Hold on! August Madness is on the wing

Master John’s throat, boys! Cut quickly now!

Away from us, ancient Easter, treacherous hag!

You’re yesterday’s nightmare --

A new world has begun!

Shine now my Sweet Lucy, from a faraway

Darkness that will drench this sin-soaked earth

In Christian blood (man, woman, child), in terror

Let us drink the life spirit of men, bold and determined,

Wrapped in bed quilts, plugs of tobacco on their breast

They can’t hear you, black woman, my Dear Sweet Lucy

They can’t hear the joy of freedom in your laugh. Their ears

Hear the shriek of fanatics and monsters!  But we know

The miracle of the Hour! The last shall be first, the first last

Your love of life shall save you, O Lucy of the Night

Grand Dame of Freedom! We won the Day!

Judgment Day! Monday, August 22, 1831!

Brandy and gunpowder, a Great Feast of Jubilee!

Your Mistress is chained to the lie of her desire

Burn in hell! Witch! Lucy is on Freedom Road

Ride on, Sweet Fearless Lucy! Ride on! Ride,

Wondrous Warrior, your coffin to the gallows!

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