The Ravages of Smallpox: Australia

October 18, 2019

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which are celebrated on Oct. 14.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com .

A poem for Indigenous Peoples’ Day about the ravages of smallpox in Australia, based on passages from An Historical Journal of the Transactions at Port Jackson and Norfolk Island, published in 1793 by John Hunter:

THE RAVAGES OF SMALLPOX: AUSTRALIA

From An Historical Journal of the Transactions at Port Jackson and Norfolk Island published in 1793 by John Hunter:

I expressed much surprise at not having seen

A single native on the shore

Or a canoe as we came upon the ship;

The reason of which I could not comprehend

Until I was informed that the small-pox

Had made its appearance a few months ago

Among these unfortunate creatures.

It was truly shocking to go

Round the coves of this harbor,

Which were formerly so much frequented by the natives,

Where, in the caves of the rocks,

Which used to shelter whole families in bad weather,

Were now to be seen men, women, and children

Lying dead.

Some were sitting on their haunches

With their heads reclined beneath their knees.

Others were leaning against a rock

With their heads resting on it.

I saw a woman sitting on the ground

With her knees drawn up to her shoulders,

And her head resting on the sand

Between her feet.

© by Nicholas Gordon

If you enjoyed this poem, please like, comment on, or share it so that it might be seen and enjoyed by others. To see this poem on my site, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/therav.html. For more poems for indigenous peoples’ day, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/indigenouspeoplesdaypoems.html .

This week’s theme: Columbus Day and Indigenous People’s Day

10/14: Could I Have Seen the Consequence

10/15: The Enslavement of the Caribbeans: Columbus’ Second Voyage

10/16: The Destruction of the Indies

10/17: The Attack of the Romans on the Celts at Ynes Mŏn

10/18: The Ravages of Smallpox: Australia

The Attack of the Romans on the Celts at Ynes Mon

October 17, 2019

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which are celebrated on Oct. 14.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com .

A poem for Indigenous Peoples’ Day about the attack of the Romans on the indigenous Celts at Ynes Mŏn, an island just off the coast of Wales, based on passages from Tacitus, Annals, XIV:

THE ATTACK OF THE ROMANS ON THE CELTS AT YNES MŎN

From Tacitus, Annals XIV:

Suetonius Paulinus prepared accordingly

To attack the island of Mona

Which had a considerable population of its own,

While serving as a haven for refugees.

In view of the shallow and variable channel,

He constructed a flotilla of boats with flat bottoms.

By this method the infantry crossed;

The cavalry, who followed,

Did so by fording or, in deeper water,

By swimming at the side of their horses.

On the beach stood an adverse array,

A serried mass of arms and men,

With women flitting between the ranks.

In the style of Furies,

In robes of deathly black and with disheveled hair,

They brandished their torches; while a circle of Druids,

Lifting their hands to heaven and showering imprecations,

Struck the troops with such awe at the extraordinary spectacle

That, as though their limbs were paralyzed,

They exposed their bodies to wounds

Without an attempt at movement.

Then, reassured by their general,

And inciting each other never to flinch

Before a band of females and fanatics,

They charged behind the standards,

Cut down all who met them,

And enveloped the enemy in his own flames.

© by Nicholas Gordon

If you enjoyed this poem, please like, comment on, or share it so that it might be seen and enjoyed by others. To see this poem on my site, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/theatt.html. For more poems for indigenous peoples’ day, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/indigenouspeoplesdaypoems.html .

This week’s theme: Columbus Day and Indigenous People’s Day

10/14: Could I Have Seen the Consequence

10/15: The Enslavement of the Caribbeans: Columbus’ Second Voyage

10/16: The Destruction of the Indies

10/17: The Attack of the Romans on the Celts at Ynes Mŏn

The Destruction of the Indies

October 16, 2019

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which are celebrated on Oct. 14.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com .

A poem for Indigenous Peoples’ Day based on passages from A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies by Bartolomé de las Casas (written in 1542, published in 1552):

THE DESTRUCTION OF THE INDIES

From A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies by Bartolomé de las Casas (written in 1542, published in 1552):

The settlers would erect long gibbets
To which they would bind thirteen of the Indians at one time,
In honor and reverence, they said,
Of Our Redeemer and the twelve Apostles,
And put firewood around it
And burn the Indians alive.

Another time, because the Indians
Did not give a settler a coffer filled with gold,
They killed countless souls,
And cut off the hands and noses of countless
Men and women, and others they threw
To the savage dogs,
Who tore them to pieces and ate them.

The cacique asked the holy father whether
Christians went to the sky. The priest replied
That they did, but only those who were good.
And the cacique then said that he
Did not desire to go to the sky,
But rather down to hell
So that he would not be where they were
And would not see such cruel people.

© by Nicholas Gordon

If you enjoyed this poem, please like, comment on, or share it so that it might be seen and enjoyed by others. To see this poem on my site, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/thedes.html. For more poems for indigenous peoples’ day, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/indigenouspeoplesdaypoems.html .

This week’s theme: Columbus Day and Indigenous People’s Day

10/14: Could I Have Seen the Consequence

10/15: The Enslavement of the Caribbeans: Columbus’ Second Voyage

10/16: The Destruction of the Indies

The Enslavement of the Carribeans: Columbus' Second Voyage

October 15, 2019

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which are celebrated on Oct. 14.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com .

A poem for Indigenous Peoples’ Day about bringing Indian slaves back to Spain, based on passages from a letter by Michele da Cuneo, who accompanied Columbus on his second voyage and wrote the letter after his return to Italy in 1495: 

THE ENSLAVEMENT OF THE CARIBBEANS: COLUMBUS’ SECOND VOYAGE

From a letter by Michele da Cuneo, who accompanied Columbus on his second voyage and wrote the letter after his return to Italy in 1495:

When our caravels were ready to depart,

We gathered 1,600 Indians, male and female,

And on the 17^th of February 1495

Loaded aboard 650 of the best, both men and women.

The rest were offered to whoever wanted them.

And so it was.

When everyone was supplied with slaves,

About 400 were freed to go where they wished,

Among whom were females with nursing infants,

Whom they flung to the ground as they fled,

Fleeing like desperate persons

Seven or eight days from our settlement,

Beyond mountains and great rivers,

So that it would be nearly impossible

Ever to take them again.

As pleased God we had such favorable winds

That we reached the island of Madeira in 23 days.

But by that time some 200 of the Indians had died,

And we cast them into the sea.

Soon after this we reached Cadiz,

Where we unloaded the slaves,

Half of whom were sick.

They are not made for work,

Fear greatly the cold,

And do not live long.

© by Nicholas Gordon

If you enjoyed this poem, please like, comment on, or share it so that it might be seen and enjoyed by others. To see this poem on my site, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/theens.html. For more poems for indigenous peoples’ day, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/indigenouspeoplesdaypoems.html .

This week’s theme: Columbus Day and Indigenous People’s Day

10/14: Could I Have Seen the Consequence

10/15: The Enslavement of the Caribbeans: Columbus’ Second Voyage

Could I Have Seen the Consequence

October 14, 2019

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which are celebrated on Oct. 14.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com .

A Columbus Day poem in which Columbus reflects upon the terrible consequences for indigenous people of his discoveries:

Could I have seen the consequence

Of my bold exploration,

Looking back before I left

Upon my life's creation --

Millions genocidally

Butchered, starved, enslaved,

Under laws and governments

Savage, cruel, depraved --

Despite all this, I would have gone,

And new lands found, and new worlds known,

Yet drawn by what I craved.

© by Nicholas Gordon

If you enjoyed this poem, please like, comment on, or share it so that it might be seen and enjoyed by others. To see this poem on my site, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/could2.html. For more Columbus Day poems, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/columbusdaypoems.html .

This week’s theme: Columbus Day and Indigenous People’s Day

10/14: Could I Have Seen the Consequence

The Roots of Hatred

October 13, 2019

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is ethical behavior in honor of Yom Kippur, which begins at sunset on Oct. 8 and ends at nightfall on Oct. 9.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com .

A philosophical poem about the need to love oneself whole – both the good and the evil:

The roots of hatred run so deep

We drink their poison in our sleep.

Deep within or deep below,

The roots run deeper than we know.

Day and night, and night and day

We while the precious time away

Hating, writhing, seething, ranting,

All the while new hate seeds planting.

In the mind and in the heart,

In the whole and in each part,

The anger clenches flesh and soul,

Taking a titanic toll.

O love, the wind that winnows well

The hate that holds the heart in hell,

Come and kiss the urge to kill,

And storms abate, and tempests still.

Love comes alone to those who call,

And love themselves along with all,

Love the roots and love the tree,

And know that you are part of me;

And know that I am part of you,

And you become the things I do,

And what I hate is what I am,

Both hungry wolf and slaughtered lamb.

So do not hate the hate within,

But love the love, and love the sin,

Love the beast and love the prey,

For both one word of wonder say.

© by Nicholas Gordon

If you enjoyed this poem, please like, comment on, or share it so that it might be seen and enjoyed by others. To see this poem on my site, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/theroo.html. For more philosophical poems, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/philosophicalpoems.html .

This week’s theme: Ethical Behavior

10/7: You Cannot Think the Book of Life Will Close

10/8: You Find but Little Solace in Success

10/9: You Wish to Live a Long and Happy Life

10/10: If Life Could Be a Court and We Be Tried

10/11: Justin Walks Along His Own Thin Line

10/12: Adrian Knows Well the Unsaid Rules

10/13: The Roots of Hatred

Adrian Knows Well the Unsaid Rules

October 12, 2019

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is ethical behavior in honor of Yom Kippur, which begins at sunset on Oct. 8 and ends at nightfall on Oct. 9.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com .

A philosophical name poem about choosing to shape one’s behavior according to ethical rules:

Adrian knows well the unsaid rules

Demanding that one be what one is not.

Restraining the fierce appetites within,

Interning the insurgents bent on sin,

As he matures, he learns to love his lot,

No longer heeding the laments of fools.

© by Nicholas Gordon

If you enjoyed this poem, please like, comment on, or share it so that it might be seen and enjoyed by others. To see this poem on my site, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/adrian.html. For more philosophical poems, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/philosophicalpoems.html .

This week’s theme: Ethical Behavior

10/7: You Cannot Think the Book of Life Will Close

10/8: You Find but Little Solace in Success

10/9: You Wish to Live a Long and Happy Life

10/10: If Life Could Be a Court and We Be Tried

10/11: Justin Walks Along His Own Thin Line

10/12: Adrian Knows Well the Unsaid Rules