Wednesday 14 November 2007

Hand in Hand- A poem of hope and freedom.

I am fortunate to be a governor at Sidegate Primary School- and I am pleased to see that they have been researching the connection between Ipswich and the slave abolition movements- I have blogged on a number of occasions about the work of local man - Thomas Clarkson.
12 young Sidegate pupils have worked on a poem to commemorate the life and work of Thomas Clarkson and this was read at the opening of an exhibition at Ipswich Museum. the exhibition is worth visiting as it looks at the life of Clarkson and the effects of the evil slave trade.

Here is the poem:

Hand in Hand
The sun rises on another hopeful day
As we walk down Clarkson Street
West towards the river
Our journey to the future starts today
Today we live Dr King's dream
"Judge me by the content of my character"
We are the future, a future that is free
As we walk to the river
Hand in Hand
The same sun rose on an African plain 250 years ago
Stolen people dragged from their homes
Walk west towards the river
Monster ships carry them beyond the horizon
Sugar, cotton, filthy money
Unheard voices call for freedom
As they walk to the river
Chain by chain
The sun rises on another hopeful day
As we walk down Clarkson Street
West towards the river
Clarkson, Gibbons and Wilberforce
Dr King, Rosa Parks and Nelson Mandela
Showed us the way
I choose freedom, happiness and hope
As we walk to the river
Hand in Hand
By the pupils of Sidegate Primary School, Ipswich
What is also pleasing is the comment received from the museum:
"Thank you again- the children were so beautifully behaved and a real credit to Sidegate Primary School and we hope we can work together in the future"

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