 | Complete Poems of Frances E. W. Harper |  |
DELIVERANCE
Rise up! rise up! Oh Israel,
Let a spotless lamb be slain;
The angel of death will o'er you bend
And rend your galling chain.
Let a spotless lamb be slain;
The angel of death will o'er you bend
And rend your galling chain.
Sprinkle its blood upon the posts
And lintels of your door;
When the angel sees the crimson spots
Unharmed he will pass you o'er.
And lintels of your door;
When the angel sees the crimson spots
Unharmed he will pass you o'er.
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Gather your flocks and herds to-night,
Your children by your side;
A leader from Arabia comes
To be your friend and your guide.
Your children by your side;
A leader from Arabia comes
To be your friend and your guide.
With girded loins and sandled feet
Await the hour of dread,
When Mizraim shall wildly mourn
Her first-born and her dead.
Await the hour of dread,
When Mizraim shall wildly mourn
Her first-born and her dead.
The sons of Abraham no more
Shall crouch 'neath Pharaoh's hand,
Trembling with agony and dread.
He'll thrust you from the land.
Shall crouch 'neath Pharaoh's hand,
Trembling with agony and dread.
He'll thrust you from the land.
And ye shall hold in unborn years
A feast to mark this day,
When joyfully the fathers rose
And cast their chains away.
A feast to mark this day,
When joyfully the fathers rose
And cast their chains away.
When crimson tints of morning flush
The golden gates of day,
Or gorgeous hue of even melt
In sombre shades away,
The golden gates of day,
Or gorgeous hue of even melt
In sombre shades away,
Then ye shall to your children teach
The meaning of this feast,
How from the proud oppressor's hand
Their fathers were released,
The meaning of this feast,
How from the proud oppressor's hand
Their fathers were released,
And ye shall hold through distant years
This feast with glad accord,
And children's children yet shall learn
To love and trust the Lord.
This feast with glad accord,
And children's children yet shall learn
To love and trust the Lord.
Ages have passed since Israel trod
In triumph through the sea,
And yet they hold in memory's urn
Their first great jubilee,
In triumph through the sea,
And yet they hold in memory's urn
Their first great jubilee,
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When Moses led the ransomed hosts,
And Miriam's song arose,
While ruin closed around the path
Of their pursuing foes.
And Miriam's song arose,
While ruin closed around the path
Of their pursuing foes.
Shall Israel thro' long varied years
These memories cherish yet,
And we who lately stood redeemed
Our broken chains forget?
These memories cherish yet,
And we who lately stood redeemed
Our broken chains forget?
Should we forget the wondrous change
That to our people came,
When justice rose and sternly plead
Our cause with sword and flame,
That to our people came,
When justice rose and sternly plead
Our cause with sword and flame,
And led us through the storms of war
To freedom's fairer shore,
When slavery sank beneath a flood
Whose waves were human gore?
To freedom's fairer shore,
When slavery sank beneath a flood
Whose waves were human gore?
Oh, youth and maidens of the land,
Rise up with one accord,
And in the names of Christ go forth
To battle for the Lord.
Rise up with one accord,
And in the names of Christ go forth
To battle for the Lord.
Go forth, but not in crimson fields,
With fratricidal strife,
But in the name of Christ go forth
For freedom, love and life.
With fratricidal strife,
But in the name of Christ go forth
For freedom, love and life.
Go forth to follow in his steps,
Who came not to destroy,
Till wasteds shall blossom as the rose,
And deserts sing for joy.
Who came not to destroy,
Till wasteds shall blossom as the rose,
And deserts sing for joy.
| Complete Poems of Frances E. W. Harper | |