Bar's Fight
August 'twas the twenty-fifth,
Seventeen hundred forty-six; The Indians did in ambush lay, Some very valiant men to slay, The names of whom I'll not leave out. Samuel Allen like a hero fout, And though he was so brave and bold, His face no more shalt we behold Eteazer Hawks was killed outright, Before he had time to fight, - Before he did the Indians see, Was shot and killed immediately. Oliver Amsden he was slain, Which caused his friends much grief and pain. Simeon Amsden they found dead, Not many rods distant from his head. Adonijah Gillett we do hear Did lose his life which was so dear. John Sadler fled across the water, And thus escaped the dreadful slaughter. Eunice Allen see the Indians coming, And hopes to save herself by running, And had not her petticoats stopped her, The awful creatures had not catched her, Nor tommy hawked her on the head, And left her on the ground for dead. Young Samuel Allen, Oh lack-a-day! Was taken and carried to Canada. |
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"Bars Fight" is a poem that retells the story of when a group of Indians attacked and killed two families that lived in Deerfield, Massachusetts. Lucy Terry witnessed this attack and knew the families personally. Terry uses language that expresses her grief in regards to the tragedy and her admiration for the people who lost their lives. Despite this emotion, Terry is able to give a detailed and objective account of what happened that day. She has no agenda that she is trying to push, so one can assume that her account is accurate and reliable. However, some details and wording may have been altered as a result of the poem being passed down orally until it was written down in 1855.
This poem is important to American literature for several reasons. One reason is that this is the first known poem that was composed by an African American woman. Terry was able to overcome the obstacles she faced as a result of her race and gender and was able to recite a beautiful poem. Although Terry did not have the means to write down her work, it has withstood the test of time and is still read today. Another reason this poem is important is because it gives a detailed account of an event in history that would otherwise be unknown. This poem paints a scene of what happened by listing specific names and the ways they were murdered.
This poem is important to American literature for several reasons. One reason is that this is the first known poem that was composed by an African American woman. Terry was able to overcome the obstacles she faced as a result of her race and gender and was able to recite a beautiful poem. Although Terry did not have the means to write down her work, it has withstood the test of time and is still read today. Another reason this poem is important is because it gives a detailed account of an event in history that would otherwise be unknown. This poem paints a scene of what happened by listing specific names and the ways they were murdered.