Caroline

A Square of Language

by Caroline

You take a walk not noticing what is beside your feet,

Words etched into a golden block, glowing in the summer’s heat-

Take a look at that stone-

We acknowledge the life of an enslaved person.

Reflect on the life of a man.

Appreciate the life of a father, husband.

The story of Theophilus.

Trapped like a firefly in a jar,

Glowing,

Leaving behind a legacy of resistance.

Leaving behind a story to remember.

Caroline's Writer’s Statement

For my reflection of how I wanted to express my creativity for this project, I wanted to write a poem that was a summary of my emotional response to Theophilus Niger's legacy. It was important that I wrote a poem that did not speak for Theophilus, but instead reflected on my research. Theophilus’ life was documented in wills, probate records, and more, yet there is still so much unknown about the details of his story. This being said, we can piece together points of his life such as his marriage to Penelope Tantipen, his emancipation, and the land that he owned. His impact that he left on this world was moving, and I think it is necessary to try to communicate how it inspired me. This poem is a call to action for people to take time to acknowledge. It is important that we do not just remember Theophilus as what he had to go through as an enslaved man, but as a father and husband. The lines “Trapped like a firefly in a jar,/Glowing/Leaving behind a legacy of resistance” (lines 8-10), express his hopeful spirit that we can still find even in the little documents we have of him. Just like our Witness Stone has engraved, he continues to leave behind a legacy.