Slave Killers Poem by john tiong chunghoo

fated to serve
the master
this life
and the next
black america
should cry
gratitude
to the great god
in this case
in the darkest of Borneo
as the crickets shrill
you still see
large carved wooden poles
totem poles
with devil faces
looming over the trees
darkened by
a century of rain,
slavery tears
and as you delve
look into the crevices
carved from hundred year old tree
shrill of the crickets
croak of toads, amphibians
pale in comparison
to cry amplified in your ear
a lord's death
always accompanied
by a slave
emaciated, drenched away
in the sweltering
tropical heat
in a chamber just below
taking the greatest
blow from master
that but now was
still as a log
but yet powerful as lord
slowly, and slowly
he succumbed
to a death
befitting of slaves
the worms
from the upper chamber
swarmed all over
to claim him
carry him away
to serve
the lord
slowly
he slipped away
giving up on life
and death
taking whatever would come
this life
next life
succumbing
to what he thought
is god's will