Cape Coast Castle Poem by C. Albert Andrews

Stench of waste and decaying flesh
Poured out from caves with human breath
Men and women all soaking wet
In tears from pain and backs with sweat,
Cape Coast Castle, a sure mark of death
Crammed like herrings in caves below
In dark deep dungeon, damp and hallow.
Human cry from distant echoed
Flew pass ears of heartless fellows,
Cape Coast castle a place of sorrow
While freed men sipped whisky and tea
Captured men had hungry belly.
Strange enough, was that church above,
When down below were chambers of woe.
Cape Coast Castle was pain and sorrow.
With chartered course and fate unknown
Sleepless nights and days untold
Legs in shackles, hands in chains
Robust men walked in shame
Yet Cape Coast Castle takes no blame.