Classic and Contemporary Poetry
AT HARPER'S FERRY JUST BEFORE THE ATTACK, by EDWARD W. WILLIAMS First Line: The hour, the spot, are here at last Last Line: And ages long of troubles end. Subject(s): Harpers Ferry, West Virginia | ||||||||
1. The hour, the spot, are here at last Their purpose, cause and hope we know, Our duty is to hold on fast To all the vows we made before. 2. To such as yield to our demand For freedom here and everywhere, In homes of safety let them stand And all their household comforts spare. 3. Those who refuse us or resist, Be as it may by words or arms, Enroll their names on death's black list To meet their dooms at war's alarms. 4. The blood that must be shed to-night Can never stain the name we bear, We fight for God's own holy right Which is to all mankind so dear. 5. Virginia robbed it from a race For over two sad hundred years, Abused and kept it in disgrace Regardless of entreating tears. 6. Those ancient tears rejoice to see This retributive night's advance, While Negro blood to you, to me, Is crying aloud for vengeance. 7. Around us stand with cheering hand The ghost of every Negro dead, Each blesses the freedom we demand Each bids us press with zeal ahead. 8. Angels rejoice with gladness, too, While round the throne on high they stand, To see poor mortal men pursue The common foe of God and man. 9. Though we are few in numbers now We trust the promise Jesus made, That where a few for good shall bow His spirit will be there to aid. 10. The saints are singing music sweet All around the heavenly strand, To see us here as Christians meet To help and save our brother man. 11. Oh! Saviour, Angels, Saints, look on While we the fathers will obey, Befriend and comvort them that mourn And in the dust their burdens lay. 12. We open war at once to-night And liberty for all proclaim, We'll lead from darkness unto light The weak, the poor, the blind and lame. 13. Before to-morrow's sun displays Its golden colors in the East, We'll wake slaveholders in amaze To breakfast on a bloody feast. 14. My brothers what a holy war In which we all will soon engage, It will assert free equal law Against the tyrants of the age. 15. The broken heart, the tearful eyes The cheerless face none sought to please, Will ere the morning sun arise Have symptoms of a time of ease. 16. The runaways in forest wilds And children sold to foreign shore, Will soon return with happy smiles To see their parents, friends, once more. 17. The screws, the lashes and the hounds Shall no more glut off Negro blood, Our forward march, our bugle sounds, Will scatter them as by a flood. 18. Husband and wife, daughters and son, Forever more shall ne'er be sold, Together they shall live as one Till choice or Heaven breaks the fold. 19. The fertile earth shall no more yield Her fruits for unrequited toil, The riches of the harvest field Must be for him who tills the soil. 20. Ye children all of Africa "Possess your soul" and weep no more, This night will force America To grant you all you asked of yore. 21. The laws of God your rights ordain We are the instruments they send -- To cut your way, to break your chain, And ages long of troubles end. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HARPER'S FERRY by CARL JOHN BOSTELMANN THANATOPSIS by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT THIRTY BOB A WEEK by JOHN DAVIDSON SOTTO VOCE; TO EDWARD THOMAS by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE THE HILL WIFE: HOUSE FEAR by ROBERT FROST PROPERZIA ROSSI by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS EXILED by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY THE PASSOVER IN THE HOLY FAMILY (FOR A DRAWING) by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI |
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