I took a walk one winter’s day
Down a path I still remember.
I left home early, got on my way,
‘Twas a cold one in December.
I needed no coat, no hat nor boots,
My concern was not the weather.
I was seeking out my roots
And giants of history altogether.
So, who did I meet on this trip?
But Bacon, Gabriel, Turner and Brown.
They were lined up on the strip
And making their way through town.
“How do you do?,” they said to me
One after another, like lines in a play.
I couldn’t speak and smiled respectfully,
But thought about what I needed to say.
As they passed, I turned ‘round briskly
To observe their colossal stature.
I dug deep, uttered these words quickly,
“Carpe diem, cras non promittitur.”
February 14, 2024
A tribute to the early antislavery revolutionaries Nathaniel Bacon (1647–1676), Gabriel (c. 1776–1800), Nat Turner (1800–1831) and John Brown (1800–1859). “Carpe diem, cras non promittitur” translates into English as, “Seize the day, for tomorrow is never promised.”
MULTIMEDIAMAN 