Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE PILGRIMS, by RALPH WALDO EMERSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE PILGRIMS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Behold I make partition
Last Line: As they had been of yore.
Subject(s): Pilgrim Fathers


Behold I make partition
In this new world I have built,
For slavery differs from freedom
As honor is wide from guilt.

Lo now to Freedom I assign
And make partition fair,
All space above the waterline
All ground below the air.

And what's beside may slavery claim
Her residue & share,
Within the earth to hide her shame,
Or climb above the air.

Firm to the pole he knots the cord,
And to the tropics drew,
About the round globe's quarter broad,
Along the welkin blue.

Hills clapped their hands, the rivers shined,
The seas applauding roar,
The elements were of one mind,
As they had been of yore.





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