Classic and Contemporary Poetry
FORMERLY A SLAVE' (AN IDEALIZED PORTRAIT, BY E. VEDDER), by HERMAN MELVILLE Poet's Biography First Line: The sufferance of her race is shown Last Line: Sibylline, yet benign. Subject(s): American Civil War; Paintings & Painters; Slavery; United States - History; Vedder, Elihu (1836-1923); Serfs | ||||||||
(In the Spring Exhibition of the National Academy, 1'65) The sufferance of her race is shown, And retrospect of life, Which now too late deliverance dawns upon; Yet is she not at strife. Her children's children they shall know The good withheld from her; And so her reverie takes prophetic cheer -- In spirit she sees the stir Far down the depth of thousand years, And marks the revel shine; Her dusky face is lit with sober light, Sibylline, yet benign. | Discover our poem explanations - click here!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 THE COMING STORM' (A PICTURE BY R. S. GIFFORD) by HERMAN MELVILLE A DIRGE FOR MCPHERSON; KILLED IN FRONT OF ATLANTA by HERMAN MELVILLE |
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