FRANCIS ANTONIO
For Francis Antonio DaCosta
By Gary Johnston
Joachim & Linda
Named him Francis Antonio
His birth coming hard
That April 1879
The way the sun baked Christopher Nevis
Saint Thomas Parish
Even the blue water-cooled nothing
He was their child
Portuguese
Born on an island of sun
So many miles from
The history of slave trade
The stain on Portugal’s memory
Four hundred years
The ships carried lives
Born to a Caribbean sea
His father’s father
Birthed to memory
Lived his whole life
In the shadow of the sun
His children fished the waters
Labored on the land
Made babies with island women
Loved them as husband & father
Francis Antonio the second son
Grown straight lean
Like those before him
Sailed the blue water
Sang the music of his heart
Till Bermuda called him
To live in the shade of Adrianna’s love
Years they would make a history
The babies they birthed would grow
Travel the same waters
Make promise in a chosen land
Build their cities with
All the sum of Francis Antonio
Running in their blood.
For Francis Antonio DaCosta
By Gary Johnston
Joachim & Linda
Named him Francis Antonio
His birth coming hard
That April 1879
The way the sun baked Christopher Nevis
Saint Thomas Parish
Even the blue water-cooled nothing
He was their child
Portuguese
Born on an island of sun
So many miles from
The history of slave trade
The stain on Portugal’s memory
Four hundred years
The ships carried lives
Born to a Caribbean sea
His father’s father
Birthed to memory
Lived his whole life
In the shadow of the sun
His children fished the waters
Labored on the land
Made babies with island women
Loved them as husband & father
Francis Antonio the second son
Grown straight lean
Like those before him
Sailed the blue water
Sang the music of his heart
Till Bermuda called him
To live in the shade of Adrianna’s love
Years they would make a history
The babies they birthed would grow
Travel the same waters
Make promise in a chosen land
Build their cities with
All the sum of Francis Antonio
Running in their blood.
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