A Boy, a Man, a Hero

About twelve miles from Easton, Harriet gave birth.

To a mixed-gender boy, she gave life on this earth.

This era he was born to, full of moral decay

denied him the knowledge of his own birthday.

This boy would learn the equation soon enough

that life plus his color would equal very tough

In his early years, drunk Mr. Plummer was best to avoid,

But even worse, the boy then went to live with Colonel Lloyd.

Under wealthy Edward Lloyd the conditions were poor,

Every slave shared a bed, the cold, damp floor.

The limited food supply barely kept his slaves fed,

The way they were treated? well look at Lloyd's Ned.

If a slave was ever questioned if they were content,

if they were wise, they would give their unwavering consent.

Mr. Hopkins was overseer, and was succeeded by Gore.

Lloyd admired the burning cruelty at his core.

This boy lived at a disgustingly unjust point in time,

in which the murderers of slaves were innocent of their crime.

In comparison, this boy's life was not manual labor but a chore,

And then one day it was revealed he'd be moving to Baltimore.

In Baltimore this boy met Hugh, Sofia, and Thomas their son,

And he found it would be his job to reassure Thomas had fun.

Mrs. Auld began to teach the boy and inflicted no harm,

Life was much different in the city than the farm.

Though the luxury of learning ceased to continue

When Mr. Auld suggested an education would alter the boy's point of view.

With this change Sophia made it her goal

to become a 'true' slaveholder, and harden her soul.

Not only did his mistress make a pact for herself,

but this boy decided to do so as well,

and he promised himself he'd escape from this hell.

No matter how little knowledge it is knowledge the same,

and this knowledge and courage would lead to his fame.

In the spring of 1832, he moved go St. Michael's and served Master Thomas

and through all his hardships he never forgot his promise.

Then on the 1st of January in 1833,

he left Master, his aunt, his sister, and Henny.

His new master was named Covey and it was revealed

that he was, for the first time, to work in a field.

For the first time