Classic and Contemporary Poetry
JOHN BROWN, by HARRY LYMAN KOOPMAN Poet's Biography First Line: The sea-bound landsman looking back to shore Last Line: Our tossing bark of progress sunward steers. Subject(s): Abolitionists; Brown, John (1800-1859); Slavery; Anti-slavery; Serfs | ||||||||
THE sea-bound landsman, looking back to shore, Now learns what land is highest: -- not the ring Of hills that erewhile shut out everything Beyond them from him: these are seen no more; Nor yet the loftier heights that, from the lower, He saw far inland, blue, and, worshipping, Believed they touched the sky; the gull's white wing Long since flashed o'er them sunk in the sea-floor. These were but uplands hiding the true height, Which looms above them as they sink, and rears Its greatness ever greater on the sight. So thou, across the widening sea of years, Aye risest great, as on through gloom and bright Our tossing bark of Progress sunward steers. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...JOY IN THE WOODS by CLAUDE MCKAY ELIZABETH KECKLEY: 30 YEARS A SLAVE AND 4 YEARS IN THE WHITE HOUSE by E. ETHELBERT MILLER EMANCIPATION by ELIZABETH ALEXANDER JOHN BROWN'S BODY by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET |
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