emancipation day villanelle

 in the bright morning under the free sun

all are now equal each of us may stand

glad in the knowledge that the lash is done

 

the times are over when we had to run

justice has entered where it once was banned

in the the bright morning under the free sun

 

a different type of journey has begun

when no one has the right of sole command

glad in the knowledge that the lash is done

 

we look around and see that we have won

so very much that all our words seem bland

in the bright morning under the free sun

 

what will become of us is known to none

but t we are ready and we understand

gland in the knowledge that the lash is done

 

and we have reached the point where everyone

must pause to sing then claim as theirs the land

in the bright morning under the free sun

glad in the knowledge that the lash is done