FREETOWN BY GLADYS CASELY-HAYFORD

Freetown, when God made thee, He made thy soil alone

Then threw the rich remainder in the sea.

Small inlets cradled He, in jet black stone.

Small bays of transient blue He lulled to sleep

Within jet rocks, filled from the Atlantic deep.

Then God let loose wee harbingers of song.

He scattered palms profusely o’er the ground

Then grew tall grasses, who in happy mirth

Reached up to kiss each palm tree that they found.

‘This is my gem!’ God whispered, ‘this shall be

To me a jewel in blue turquoise set.’

Thus spake the mouth of life’s eternity;

There, tranquilly lies Freetown, even yet.

Then God couched, lion –like, each mighty hill.

Silent, they keep their watch o’er Freetown still

Silent –