 | Naked Genius |  |
THE OBSTRUCTIONS OF GENIUS.
I am surveyed by envy's eye,
By white and colored all the same,
Which oft draws out a secret sigh,
To feel the ills that bother fame.
By white and colored all the same,
Which oft draws out a secret sigh,
To feel the ills that bother fame.
Throughout my life I've tried the path,
Which seemed as leading out of gloom,
Beneath my feet still kindled wrath,
Genius seemed leading to a tomb.
Which seemed as leading out of gloom,
Beneath my feet still kindled wrath,
Genius seemed leading to a tomb.
No cultivating hand was found,
To urge the night improving slave,
Never by freedom's laurel crowned,
But pushed through hardship to the grave.
To urge the night improving slave,
Never by freedom's laurel crowned,
But pushed through hardship to the grave.
Has philanthropic vigor slept,
So long in cells of disregard,
While genius in his fetters wept,
Devoid of favors or reward.
So long in cells of disregard,
While genius in his fetters wept,
Devoid of favors or reward.
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They often fly to trivial pleas,
To interdict the important cause,
To crush the negligent disease,
And kill the force of humane laws.
To interdict the important cause,
To crush the negligent disease,
And kill the force of humane laws.
Why did the Gods of Afric sleep,
Forgetful of their guardian love,
When the white traitors of the deep,
Betray'd him in the palmy grove.
Forgetful of their guardian love,
When the white traitors of the deep,
Betray'd him in the palmy grove.
Let us the evil now forget,
Which darkened the Columbian shore,
Till sun shall fail to rise and set,
And slavery's cries are heard no more.
Which darkened the Columbian shore,
Till sun shall fail to rise and set,
And slavery's cries are heard no more.
| Naked Genius | |