Classic and Contemporary Poetry
UNCHAIN THE LABORER, by JOHN PIERPONT Poet's Biography First Line: Strike from that laborer's limbs his chain! Last Line: And wait, in hope, the judgement day. Subject(s): Abolitionists; Slavery; Anti-slavery; Serfs | ||||||||
STRIKE from that laborer's limbs his chain! In the fierce sun the iron burns! By night, it fills his dreams with pain; By day, it galls him as he turns. Yes; and your dreams it visits, too, When Fear stands o'er your restless bed, And shakes it in your ears, till you Tremble, as at an earthquake's tread. Then break his chain, and let him go, And, with the spirit of a man, Earn his own bread; and you shall know Peace, -- that you know not now, nor can The chain, that binds to you your slave, Binds you to him, with links so strong, That you must wear them to your grave, If all your days you do him wrong. Then, from his body and your soul, Throw off the load, while yet you may; Thus strive, in faith, for heaven's high goal, And wait, in hope, the judgement day. | 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 ON LAYING THE CORNER-STONE OF THE BUNKER HILL MOMUMENT by JOHN PIERPONT |
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