The Poet Slave of Cuba, a Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano (Biography)

Engle, Margarita. The Poet Slave of Cuba, a Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano. Ill. by Sean Qualls. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, 2008. ISBN 9780805077063

The Poet Slave of Cuba, a Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano is a vibrant take on a traditional biographical text. Instead of timelines and facts, the incredible tale of Manzano’s life it told through narrative poetry. Graceful and honest verses give the reader a glimpse of what slavery looked and felt like in Cuba during the 1800s. The biography begins with Manzano’s birth and follows his life as he is both celebrated and held captive for his incredible genius and gift with words. The verse novel concludes with Manzano’s eventual escape out of slavery as he flees his cruel owner. Black and white illustrations capture the emotional essence of the poems and the viewpoint they represent.


Below is a poem written from Juan’s perspective. It can be found on page 59 of The Poet Slave of Cuba, a Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano.

Sleep enchants the human spirit.
Each time I fall into dreams
while holding the lantern
she sends me once again
to the stocks
that trap of splintered, bloodstained wood
where ankles, neck, and wrists
are locked in place.

I feel like an ox in its yoke
except that pairs of oxen are free to move
pulling the plow
tearing down trees
making way for more sugarcane fields
on this island
where once
there were forests of cool, soothing shade
and clearings of warm
clear light
and narrow pathways leading
away.


This poem is the perfect accompaniment to a study on the topic of slavery. Begin one day’s class discussion on slavery by reading this poem slowly. If necessary read the poem a second time, allowing students to dwell on the poem’s meaning. Allow students to share how the poem impacted them and the various emotions that the poem conveyed.

For an extension activity, explain how the poem clearly expresses the feeling of being trapped or constrained. Have students express the dichotomy between freedom and constraints through the creation of a song, poem, art piece, or essay.

Other suggested readings that might accompany the topic of slavery include:
Hill, Laban C. Dave the Potter, Artist, Poet, Slave. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2010. ISBN 978-0316107310
Levine, Ellen. Henry's Freedom Box, a True Story from the Underground Railroad. Ill. by Kadir Nelson. New York, NY: Scholastic Press, 2007. ISBN 978-0439777339
Winter, Jeanette. Follow the Drinking Gourd. Dragonfly, 1993. ISBN 978-0679819974