Classic and Contemporary Poetry
EMANCIPATION, by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR Poem Explanation Poet's Biography First Line: Fling out your banners, your honors be bringing Last Line: Onward to honor, to glory and fame. Subject(s): Emancipation Movement & Proclamation; Antislavery Movement - United States | ||||||||
Fling out your banners, your honors be bringing, Raise to the ether your paeans of praise. Strike every chord and let music be ringing! Celebrate freely this day of all days. Few are the years since that notable blessing, Raised you from slaves to the powers of men. Each year has seen you my brothers progressing, Never to sink to that level again. Perched on your shoulders sits Liberty smiling, Perched where the eyes of the nations can see. Keep from her pinions all contact defiling; Show by your deeds what you're destined to be. Press boldly forward nor waver, nor falter. Blood has been freely poured out in your cause, Lives sacrificed upon Liberty's altar. Press to the front, it were craven to pause. Look to the heights that are worth your attaining Keep your feet firm in the path to the goal. Toward noble deeds every effort be straining. Worthy ambition is food for the soul! Up! Men and brothers, be noble, be earnest! Ripe is the time and success is assured; Know that your fate was the hardest and sternest When through those lash-ringing days you endured. Never again shall the manacles gall you Never again shall the whip stroke defame! Nobles and Freemen, your destinies call you Onward to honor, to glory and fame. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GARRISON by AMOS BRONSON ALCOTT WENDELL PHILLIPS by AMOS BRONSON ALCOTT THE DEATH OF SLAVERY by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT BOSTON HYMN; READ IN MUSIC HALL, JANUARY 1, 1863 by RALPH WALDO EMERSON FIFTY YEARS (1863-1913) by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL HENRY WARD BEECHER by CHARLES HENRY PHELPS JOHN BROWN OF OSAWATOMIE [OCTOBER 16, 1859] by EDMUND CLARENCE STEDMAN AMERICA by JAMES MONROE WHITFIELD A BANJO SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR |
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