What Did I Expect?

LEWIS MILES, 1865

 

I walk slowly

down the path

full of stones

to where the slaves

are filling our furnace.

They stop and stare.

Somehow

they already know.

 

I open my mouth,

but the words are stuck.

Finally they come out

in a whisper.

 

“Boys,” I say,

“today you,

your women,

and your children

are free.”

 

I clear my throat.

There is more

I know I should say,

but like smoke

from the furnace,

the boys are quickly gone.

 

What did I expect?

Surprise?

A joyous celebration?

A word of thanks?

Of course not.

They saw freedom coming.

They already knew.

 

I turn and walk

back up the hill.

This moment

does not

in any way

belong to me.