Water
The narrator mentioned water in poems "#3’’ through "#7’’ and in every instance it is linked with the idea and possibility of death. The presence of water and the mentioning of the sea is most likely linked with the slave trade which took place on open waters. Thus, the water is used in this context both as a symbol for slavery and for death.
Overboard
An idea mentioned time and time again in the poems is the "overboard’’. The narrator repeats this word in almost every poem and it is used to refer to the way in which the black slaves on the ship were killed. Most of the slaves were thrown overboard and left to drown in the open seas, suffering a slow and terrifying death. Those who died received the same treatment, the dead body just being thrown overboard and forgotten.
Justify
Another common motif found in the poems is the idea that the sailors felt justified when killing the black slaves on their ships. After mentioning the ways in which the slaves were killed, the narrator always mentions the word "justify’’, thus hinting the sailors felt no remorse when killing their "cargo’’.
Bending the law
Another common motif in the poems is the idea that law was easily bended by those who were rich and who held positions of power in the society. This is seen as the main reason why such suffering was caused in those days and why the many African tribes were enslaved. Bending the law is seen as the main reason why slavery appeared.
Time spent on ships
Another common motif is the common mentioning of time in relation with the long journey on sea. The narrator does not mention a clear period of time the slaves spent on ships and this lack of accuracy is used to show just how uncertain the existence of the slaves was during those times.
