 | Complete Poems of Frances E. W. Harper |  |
THE FREEDOM BELL
Ring, aye, ring the freedom bell,
And let its tones be loud and clear;
With glad hosannas let it swell
Until it reach the Bondman's ear.
And let its tones be loud and clear;
With glad hosannas let it swell
Until it reach the Bondman's ear.
Through pain that wrings the life apart,
And spasms full of deadly strife,
And throes that shake the nation's heart,
The fainting land renews her life.
And spasms full of deadly strife,
And throes that shake the nation's heart,
The fainting land renews her life.
Where shrieks and groans distract the air,
And sods grow red with crimson rain,
The ransom'd slave shall kneel in prayer
And bury deep his rusty chain.
And sods grow red with crimson rain,
The ransom'd slave shall kneel in prayer
And bury deep his rusty chain.
There cheeks now pale with sickening dread,
And brows grow dark with cruel wrath,
Shall Freedom's banner wide be spread
And Hope and Peace attend her path.
And brows grow dark with cruel wrath,
Shall Freedom's banner wide be spread
And Hope and Peace attend her path.
95
White-robed and pure her feet shall move
O'er rifts of ruin deep and wide;
Her hands shall span with lasting love
The chasms rent by hate and pride.
O'er rifts of ruin deep and wide;
Her hands shall span with lasting love
The chasms rent by hate and pride.
There waters, blush'd with human gore,
Unsullied streams shall purl along;
Where crashed the battle's awful roar
Shall rise the Freeman's joyful song.
Unsullied streams shall purl along;
Where crashed the battle's awful roar
Shall rise the Freeman's joyful song.
Then ring, aye, ring the freedom bell,
Proclaiming all the nation free;
Let earth with sweet thanksgiving swell
And heaven catch up the melody.
Proclaiming all the nation free;
Let earth with sweet thanksgiving swell
And heaven catch up the melody.
| Complete Poems of Frances E. W. Harper | |