Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, JOHN BROWN, by EDNA DEAN PROCTOR


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

JOHN BROWN, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: John brown died on the scaffold for the slave
Last Line: Freedom reigns to-day!
Alternate Author Name(s): Dean
Variant Title(s): The President's Proclamation
Subject(s): Abolitionists; Brown, John (1800-1859); Capital Punishment; Freedom; Slavery; Anti-slavery; Hanging; Executions; Death Penalty; Liberty; Serfs


JOHN BROWN died on the scaffold for the slave,
Dark was the hour when we dug his hallowed grave;
Now God avenges the life he gladly gave,
Freedom reigns to-day!
Glory, glory hallelujah,
Glory, glory hallelujah,
Glory, glory hallelujah,
Freedom reigns to-day!

John Brown sowed and the harvesters are we;
Honor to him who has made the bondsman free;
Loved evermore shall our noble ruler be,
Freedom reigns to-day!

John Brown's body lies mouldering in the grave;
Bright o'er the sod let the starry banner wave;
Lo! for the million he perilled all to save,
Freedom reigns to-day!

John Brown's body through the world is marching on;
Hail to the hour when oppression shall be gone;
All men will sing in the better day's dawn,
Freedom reigns to-day!

John Brown dwells where the battle's strife is o'er;
Hate cannot harm him, nor sorrow stir him more;
Earth will remember the martyrdom he bore,
Freedom reigns to-day!

John Brown's body lies mouldering in the grave;
John Brown lives in the triumph of the brave;
John Brown's soul not a higher joy can crave,
Freedom reigns to-day!





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