Classic and Contemporary Poetry
O SOUTHLAND!, by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: O southland! O southland! Last Line: The faint one at his side. Subject(s): African Americans; Emancipation Movement & Proclamation; Freedom; Southern States; Negroes; American Blacks; Antislavery Movement - United States; Liberty; South (u.s.) | ||||||||
O Southland! O Southland! Have you not heard the call, The trumpet blown, the word made known To the nations, one and all? The watchword, the hope-word, Salvation's present plan? A gospel new, for all for you: Man shall be saved by man. O Southland! O Southland! Do you not hear to-day The mighty beat of onward feet, And know you not their way? 'Tis forward, 'tis upward, On to the fair white arch Of Freedom's dome, and there is room For each man who would march. O Southland, fair Southland! Then why do you still cling To an idle age and a musty page, To a dead and useless thing? 'Tis springtime! 'Tis work-time! The world is young again! And God's above, and God is love, And men are only men. O Southland! my Southland! O birthland! do not shirk The toilsome task, nor respite ask, But gird you for the work. Remember, remember That weakness stalks in pride; That he is strong who helps along The faint one at his side. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE MYSTIC RIVER by GALWAY KINNELL ENTERING THE SOUTH by LUCILLE CLIFTON SNAPSHOTS OF THE COTTON SOUTH by FRANK MARSHALL DAVIS JULY IN GEORGY by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON MY SOUTH: 1. ON THE PORCH by DONALD JUSTICE MY SOUTH: 3. ON THE FARM by DONALD JUSTICE MY SOUTH: 4. ON THE TRAIN, HEADING NORTH THROUGH FLORIDA ... by DONALD JUSTICE THE WHITE WITCH by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON |
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