WHERE Britannia's emerald isles Gem the Caribbean sea, And an endless summer smiles, Lo! the negro thrall is free! Yet not on Columbia's plains, Hath the sun of freedom risen: Here, in darkness and in chains, Toiling millions pine in prison. Shout! ye islands disenthralled, Point the finger, as in scorn, At a country that is called Freedom's home, where men are born Heirs, for life, to chains and whips, -- Bondmen, who have never known Wife, child, parent, that their lips Ever dared to call their own. Yet, a Christian land is this! Yea, and ministers of Christ Slavery's foot, in homage, kiss; And their brother, who is priced Higher than their Saviour, even, Do they into bondage sell; -- Pleading thus the cause of Heaven, Serving thus the cause of hell. Holy Father, let thy word, Spoken by thy prophets old, By the pliant priest be heard; And let lips, that now are cold, (Chilled by Mammon's golden wand!) With our nation's 'burden' glow, Till the free man and the bond Shout for Slavery's overthrow! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TOM BOWLING ['S EPITAPH] by CHARLES DIBDIN CHRISTMAS IN INDIA by RUDYARD KIPLING COR CORDIUM by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE OUR STATE by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER EMBLEMS OF LOVE: CUPID TO CHLOE WEEPING; A SONNET by PHILIP AYRES OF A WINNOWER OF WHEAT TO THE WINDS by JOACHIM DU BELLAY FOR A ROYAL WEDDING, 29 JULY 1981 by JOHN BETJEMAN |