Forty Acres, a poem by Derek Walcott

Forty Acres

john baker, November 30th, 2008. No comments. Filed under literature, politics, quotations.

Out of the turmoil emerges one emblem, an engraving —

a young Negro at dawn in straw hat and overalls,

an emblem of impossible prophecy, a crowd

dividing like the furrow which a mule has ploughed,

parting for their president: a field of snow-flecked

cotton . . . (continue reading)

Derek Walcott’s poem was written exclusively for The Times to mark the election of Barack Obama as President of the USA.

Thanks to Rethabile Masilo for the lead to this one.

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