

Meet our poet: Richard Harries
Richard Harries is a poet, from Withernsea, who has been writing for around seven years about everyday life and his concerns with the...
Modern Slavery by Richard Harries
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William Wilberforce
From Hull
Fought slavery
As did many others
He thought and they thought The fight was won
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As it should be
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But human greed
And desire for power
And control
Was not ended
Not eradicated
So a different form of slavery was born Into the modern world
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Not based on race but based on profit From the prostitutes of Turin
Forced to work having fled from Africa In search of a better life
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To the cockle workers
In Morecambe Bay, whose deaths Highlighted the tragedies
Of modern slavery
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Gender, debt, childhood
All can be exploited by the evil Used for control and profit Refugee or immigrant status too As many are forced to work
In domestic servitude
Forced marriage too
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These iniquitous practices continue They thrive disgracing humanity Hard work and vigilance Resistance, rescue and complaint Against this power and greed
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Is the way to stop This dreadful practise