The Guinea Voyage: A Poem in Three Books

Presented as a three‑part poem backed by a series of candid letters, the work offers a rare insider’s view of a 19th‑century slaving voyage. The author, a former sailor in the African trade, recounts the grim preparation, the treacherous sea passage, and the brutal reality of the cargo in stark, rhythmic language. His verses aim to stir the listener’s conscience as much as to document the events.

The accompanying letters to a contemporary reformer serve as a sober, documentary counterpoint to the lyrical lament. In them the writer details recruitment tricks, the oppressive rule of the ship’s master, and the daily suffering endured by the captives. Together, the poetry and prose build a compelling picture of a trade the author hopes will finally be condemned.

Listeners will hear a mix of haunting meter and plain‑spoken testimony, inviting both emotional response and historical understanding. The narrator’s personal respect for abolitionist allies shines through, giving the piece an urgent, yet sincere, tone. It remains a vivid reminder of a dark chapter, preserved in a voice that still reverberates today.