Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO MISS MARY BRITTON, by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR Poet's Biography First Line: God the right, arise Last Line: "due meed for your endeavor." Subject(s): Racism; Racial Prejudice; Bigotry | ||||||||
God of the right, arise And let thy pow'r prevail; Too long thy children mourn In labor and travail. Oh, speed the happy day When waiting ones may see The glory-bringing birth Of our real liberty! Grant thou, O gracious God, That not in word alone Shall freedom's boon be ours, While bondage-galled we moan! But condescend to us In our o'erwhelming need; Break down the hind'ring bars, And make us free indeed. Give us to lead our cause More noble souls like hers, The memory of whose deed Each feeling bosom stirs; Whose fearless voice and strong Rose to defend her race, Roused Justice from her sleep, Drove Prejudice from place. Let not the mellow light Of Learning's brilliant ray Be quenched, to turn to night Our newly dawning day. To that bright, shining star Which thou didst set in place, With universal voice Thus speaks a grateful race: "Not empty words shall be Our offering to your fame; The race you strove to serve Shall consecrate your name. Speak on as fearless still; Work on as tireless ever; And your reward shall be Due meed for your endeavor." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BLACK WOMAN by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON FOREDOOM by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON I MUST BECOME A MENACE TO MY ENEMIES by JUNE JORDAN A SONG FOR SOWETO by JUNE JORDAN ON THE LOSS OF ENERGY (AND OTHER THINGS) by JUNE JORDAN POEM ABOUT POLICE VIOLENCE by JUNE JORDAN DRAFT OF A RAP FOR WEN HO LEE by JUNE JORDAN THE NIGHT THAT LORCA COMES by BOB KAUFMAN THE MYSTIC RIVER by GALWAY KINNELL A BANJO SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR |
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