I think the following poem by Berry shows his moral quest and how it works on a topic of some interest. You don't have to respond in any particular way to this poem, but you sure can. I would mostly be interested in seeing how you can see that the poem is an example of Berry's moral narrative and quest: Please, Comment on the Following Poem.

POEM TITLE: My Great-Grandfather's Slaves.

Deep in the back ways of my mind, I see them going in the long days over the same fields that I have gone long days over.

I see the sun passing and burning high over that land from their day until mine, their shadows have risen and consumed them.

I see them obeying and watching the bearded tall man whose voice and blood are mine, whose countenance in stone at his grave my own resembles, whose blindness is my brand.

I see them kneel and pray to the white God who buys their souls with Heaven.

I see them approach, quiet in the merchandise of their flesh, to put down their burdens of firewood and hemp and tobacco into the minds of my kinsmen.

I see them moving in the rooms of my history, the day of my birth entering the horizon emptied of their days, their purchased lives were taken back into the dust of birthright.

I see them borne, a shadow within the shadow, shroud within the shroud, through all nights from their lives to mine, long beyond reparation or given liberty or any straightness.

I see them go in the bonds of my blood through all the time of their bodies.

I have seen that freedom cannot be taken from one man and given to another, and cannot be taken and kept.

I know that freedom can only be given, and is the gift to the giver from the one who receives it.

I am owned by the blood of all of them who ever were owned by my blood. We cannot be free of each other.