 | Utterances |  |
18
A Plea for the Ox.
Of all my Father's herds and flocks,
I love the Ox—the large-eyed Ox!
I think no Christian man would wrong
The Ox—so patient, calm, and strong!
I love the Ox—the large-eyed Ox!
I think no Christian man would wrong
The Ox—so patient, calm, and strong!
How huge his strength! and yet, with flowers
A child can lead this Ox of ours;
And yoke his ponderous neck, with cords
Made only of the gentlest words.
A child can lead this Ox of ours;
And yoke his ponderous neck, with cords
Made only of the gentlest words.
By fruitful Nile the Ox was Lord;
By Jordan's stream his blood was poured;
In every age—with every clan—
He loves, he serves, he dies for Man!
By Jordan's stream his blood was poured;
In every age—with every clan—
He loves, he serves, he dies for Man!
And, through the long, long years of God,
Since laboring Adam delved the sod,
I hear no human voice that mocks
The HUE which God hath given His Ox!
Since laboring Adam delved the sod,
I hear no human voice that mocks
The HUE which God hath given His Ox!
While burdening toils bow down his back,
Who asks if he be WHITE or BLACK?
And when his generous blood is shed,
Who shall deny its common RED?
Who asks if he be WHITE or BLACK?
And when his generous blood is shed,
Who shall deny its common RED?
19
“Ye shall not muzzle”—God hath sworn—
“The Ox, that treadeth out the corn!”
I think no Christian law ordains
That Ox or Man should toil in chains.
“The Ox, that treadeth out the corn!”
I think no Christian law ordains
That Ox or Man should toil in chains.
So, haply, for an Ox I pray,
That kneels and toils for us this day;
A huge, calm, patient, large-eyed Ox,
Black-skinned, among our herds and flocks.
That kneels and toils for us this day;
A huge, calm, patient, large-eyed Ox,
Black-skinned, among our herds and flocks.
So long, O righteous Lord! so long
Bowed down, and yet so brave and strong—
I think no Christian, just and true,
Can spurn this poor Ox for his HUE!
Bowed down, and yet so brave and strong—
I think no Christian, just and true,
Can spurn this poor Ox for his HUE!
I know not why he shall not toil,
Black-skinned, upon our broad, free soil;
And lift aloft his dusky frame,
Unbranded by a bondman's name!
Black-skinned, upon our broad, free soil;
And lift aloft his dusky frame,
Unbranded by a bondman's name!
And struggling still, for nobler goal,
With wakening will and soaring soul,
I know not why his great free strength
May not be our best wealth at length:
With wakening will and soaring soul,
I know not why his great free strength
May not be our best wealth at length:
That strength which, in the limbs of SLAVES—
Like Egypt's—only piles up graves!
But in the hands of FREEMEN now
May build up States, by axe and plough!—
Like Egypt's—only piles up graves!
But in the hands of FREEMEN now
May build up States, by axe and plough!—
20
And rear up souls, as purely white
As angels, clothed with heavenly light:
And yield forth life-blood, richly red
As patriot hearts have ever shed.
As angels, clothed with heavenly light:
And yield forth life-blood, richly red
As patriot hearts have ever shed.
God help us! we are veiled within—
Or white or black—with shrouds of skin;
And, at the last, we all shall crave
Small difference in the breadth of grave!
Or white or black—with shrouds of skin;
And, at the last, we all shall crave
Small difference in the breadth of grave!
But—when the grass grows, green and calm,
And smells above our dust, like balm—
I think our rest will sweeter be,
If over us the Ox be—FREE!
And smells above our dust, like balm—
I think our rest will sweeter be,
If over us the Ox be—FREE!
February, 1862.
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