 | 'Weh Down Souf and other Poems : |  |
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EMANCIPATION.
Read at the Emancipation Exercises, True Reformers' Hall, January 1, 1892.
Blest freedom! 'tis the sweetest strain that fills the human heart;
Its blessings doth delight the soul, and sweetest joys impart.
The feathered songsters of the grove were mute if caged in gold,
And though in rags, the heart that's free finds ecstasy untold.
Its blessings doth delight the soul, and sweetest joys impart.
The feathered songsters of the grove were mute if caged in gold,
And though in rags, the heart that's free finds ecstasy untold.
Upon the ocean calm and deep a vessel rides the waves,
The freight upon her swelling breast—twenty human slaves,
Far from their native land to dwell beneath an alien sky,
Far from that dear and sunny land where Afric's waters lie.
The freight upon her swelling breast—twenty human slaves,
Far from their native land to dwell beneath an alien sky,
Far from that dear and sunny land where Afric's waters lie.
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She landed on Virginia's shore, near where we stand to-day
And gaze upon a lovely group clad all in bright array.
Memories strong and deep arise, and quick the tear-drops spring,
As we think of what to-day we are, and what we late have been.
And gaze upon a lovely group clad all in bright array.
Memories strong and deep arise, and quick the tear-drops spring,
As we think of what to-day we are, and what we late have been.
But yesterday, and dark the clouds that hung above our sky;
To-day 'tis past and full of joy; the clouds have drifted by,
The day we longed and prayed for sore at last has blessed the sight,
And that we come to celebrate—who can but say 'tis right?
To-day 'tis past and full of joy; the clouds have drifted by,
The day we longed and prayed for sore at last has blessed the sight,
And that we come to celebrate—who can but say 'tis right?
E'en in our slav'ry we can trace the kindly hand of God,
That took us from our sunny land and from our native sod,
Where, clad in Nature's simplest garb, man roamed a savage wild,
Untamed his passions; half a man and half a savage child.
That took us from our sunny land and from our native sod,
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Untamed his passions; half a man and half a savage child.
But God, to teach him His dear will, saw fit to bring him where
He learned of Him and Jesus Christ those lessons rich and rare.
He made the savage into man, tho' moulded by the rod;
And Ethiopia has, indeed, stretched forth her hands to God.
He learned of Him and Jesus Christ those lessons rich and rare.
He made the savage into man, tho' moulded by the rod;
And Ethiopia has, indeed, stretched forth her hands to God.
He was a man and felt as men, his soul with anguish burned;
His heart, too, longed for nobler things, for higher missions yearned;
But God still held him to the blast, and still afflicted sore
And still he groaned, and still he prayed, yet still his burden bore.
His heart, too, longed for nobler things, for higher missions yearned;
But God still held him to the blast, and still afflicted sore
And still he groaned, and still he prayed, yet still his burden bore.
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But, like the cries of Israel old, his prayers ascended high,
To reach the great Jehovah's throne, beyond the azure sky;
His conq'ring power brought freedom down, and broke the chain, despair,
And bade the Negro walk with men, as free as Nature's air.
To reach the great Jehovah's throne, beyond the azure sky;
His conq'ring power brought freedom down, and broke the chain, despair,
And bade the Negro walk with men, as free as Nature's air.
But was he true? Speak, Bunker Hill, and Boston Common, say,—
Did he defend from British foe on that historic day?
While thousands stood with heaving breast, and dared not strike a blow,
A Negro's voice cheered on the throng, and bade them charge the foe.
Did he defend from British foe on that historic day?
While thousands stood with heaving breast, and dared not strike a blow,
A Negro's voice cheered on the throng, and bade them charge the foe.
His blood was spilled to gain a place in battle's honored roll,
And Crispus Attuck nobly stands among the heroes bold;
And if we speak of valiant deeds, and love of country fair,
Must not begrudge his well-bought fame, but place a laurel there.
And Crispus Attuck nobly stands among the heroes bold;
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Must not begrudge his well-bought fame, but place a laurel there.
To-day is hushed the cannon's roar, and peace reigns everywhere,
And blessed freedom makes our land the fairest of the fair.
Shall we who helped to make it bloom and blossom as a rose,
Be cast aside, unworthy,—our upward course opposed?
And blessed freedom makes our land the fairest of the fair.
Shall we who helped to make it bloom and blossom as a rose,
Be cast aside, unworthy,—our upward course opposed?
We love her and are loyal as the truest of her sons;
For her our blood was shed, for her we faced the deadly guns.
We'll strive to have her take her place, the first of any land;
Stand ready to defend her soil from ev'ry alien band.
For her our blood was shed, for her we faced the deadly guns.
We'll strive to have her take her place, the first of any land;
Stand ready to defend her soil from ev'ry alien band.
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But God has freed us, and to Him we bow in praise to-day.
He'll never leave us nor forsake, but will protect alway;
And, conscious of a heart that's true, with purpose brave and strong,
We'll leave our cause in those just Hands that cannot do a wrong.
He'll never leave us nor forsake, but will protect alway;
And, conscious of a heart that's true, with purpose brave and strong,
We'll leave our cause in those just Hands that cannot do a wrong.
'Tis the blessing that we celebrate, and not the cause now lost,
For that was dear to other hearts as this can be to us.
And who were right or who were wrong, we are not here to say,
For, still in death, they're heroes all—the blue, likewise the gray.
For that was dear to other hearts as this can be to us.
And who were right or who were wrong, we are not here to say,
For, still in death, they're heroes all—the blue, likewise the gray.
And now, the din of battle past, they are our friends the same;
Not such as come to get our votes, not friends alone in name,
But friends who deep in honest hearts do wish us greatest joy.
God grant this friendship e'er may last and be without alloy.
Not such as come to get our votes, not friends alone in name,
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God grant this friendship e'er may last and be without alloy.
Then let us all with one accord now join the jubilee,
And praise our God who rules o'er this the new land of the free,
And babes unborn in future years will rise to call us great
For fixing now, for coming time, “The Day We Celebrate.”
And praise our God who rules o'er this the new land of the free,
And babes unborn in future years will rise to call us great
For fixing now, for coming time, “The Day We Celebrate.”
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