Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THIS IS A FATHERLAND TO ME, by JOSEPH CEPHAS HOLLY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THIS IS A FATHERLAND TO ME, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Oh! Tell me not of fatherland
Last Line: We may abide if anywhere.
Subject(s): African Americans; United States; Negroes; American Blacks; America


Oh! tell me not of fatherland
Far, far beyond the deep blue sea;
Of fruitful soil -- of golden sand;
Of orange groves, and cocoa tree --
My mother breathed the inspiring air,
That sweeps along our craft-filled sea;
And here my father lisped his prayer;
This is a fatherland to me.
Oh! tell me not that God appoints,
The sable man Afric too free;
Whom he selects -- whom he annoints
He'll make the path of duty see:
Oh! tell me not of power, and place,
Of wealth, of pomp, and luxury --
Of the improvement of my race,
When transplanted beyond the sea.
God ne'er but one race made to dwell,
Beneath the broad o'erarching sky;
There's but one heaven -- but one hell,
And but one vast eternity;
And whereso'er he warms the soul
Into our mortal bodies, -- there
Without intrusion or control,
We may abide if anywhere.





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