SLAVERY
Where the palm groves and bananas in the sunny Tropics thrive,
Where the parrots' lively chatter makes the jungle seem alive,
Where the beach-sands sparkle, brightly splashed by warm and steaming surf,
Where the Orient bathers gather on the grassy sand-strewn turf,
Oh, the foreign trader's vessel,
Like an eagle out for prey,
Swooping down for one brief wrestle
Bore the helpless spoil away!
Where the parrots' lively chatter makes the jungle seem alive,
Where the beach-sands sparkle, brightly splashed by warm and steaming surf,
Where the Orient bathers gather on the grassy sand-strewn turf,
Oh, the foreign trader's vessel,
Like an eagle out for prey,
Swooping down for one brief wrestle
Bore the helpless spoil away!
Oh, the lonesome wastes of ocean; oh, the far and mournful land!
To the heart of the poor heathen, woe he could not understand;
Cursed through weary generations, with a thankless load to bear,
None a recompense to promise, none to soothe the present's care;
'Twas a sunny land of plenty
Where the white-winged eagle sped;
But to him a portion scanty
That the eaglets might be fed.
To the heart of the poor heathen, woe he could not understand;
Cursed through weary generations, with a thankless load to bear,
None a recompense to promise, none to soothe the present's care;
'Twas a sunny land of plenty
Where the white-winged eagle sped;
But to him a portion scanty
That the eaglets might be fed.
Where the beautiful palmettoes in the Tropic Summer thrive,
Where bright birds with Freedom's music make the cypress- swamps alive;
Oh, the hopeless child of bondage, torn from Nature's dearest ties,
Labors on for Might's proud despot, or in slow despairing dies!
'Tis a scene of life engraven
On the records of the past,
Hovered o'er by wrong's dark raven,
With false grandeur overcast.
Where bright birds with Freedom's music make the cypress- swamps alive;
Oh, the hopeless child of bondage, torn from Nature's dearest ties,
Labors on for Might's proud despot, or in slow despairing dies!
'Tis a scene of life engraven
On the records of the past,
Hovered o'er by wrong's dark raven,
With false grandeur overcast.
[ 320 ]
