So, it happened like this,

I went one day to the local market,

To where they hold the slaves,

Passed by the endless rows,

Of grid-iron bars,

Looked in at all the faces,

Trapped and beaten there,

Like pieces of meat they were,

Owned and not valued at all,

Then I froze.

I saw you there,

You’re face was bloody,

But so beautiful,

You shone with a light,

That they couldn’t quite dim,

And I knew I had to free you,

No matter what,

So I ran back home,

To what little I had,

And sold it all,

Not a thing was left,

I hoped it be enough,

To buy your freedom,

I went the next day to the local market,

Stood before the platform,

Watched the slaves brought out,

Their masters cruel with hate,

I waited all day,

As the sun rose and set,

Watched for you to come out,

And have your turn to sell,

But the bidding ended and you never came,

So I returned home,

To my empty house alone,

Wondering whatever happened to you,

My most beautiful slave.

The weeks and months passed,

And everyday I waited,

At that same place,

Watching all the others,

Come and go,

But where were you,

Would you ever sell?

And would all I’d sold be enough,

To buy your freedom,

To buy your smile again,

To keep you from being beaten,

To give you value again,

Someday I hoped,

That it would be enough,

My most beautiful slave.