Public-domain source text

To John Brown

by Georgia Douglas Johnson

From Standard Ebooks · standardebooks/georgia-douglas-johnson_poetry

We lift a song to you across the day Which bears through travailing the seed you spread In terror’s morning, flung with fingers red In blood of tyrants, who debarred the way To Freedom’s dawning. Hearken to the lay Chanted by dusky millions, soft and mellow-keyed, In minor measure, Martyr of the Freed, A song of memory across the day.
Truth cannot perish though the earth erase The royal signals, leaving not a trace, And time still burgeoneth the fertile seed, Though he is crucified who wrought the deed: O Alleghanies, fold him to your breast Until the judgment! Sentinel his rest!

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This is a source transcription from Standard Ebooks, published in Past Poetry’s public-domain archive without line-by-line editorial notes. Public-domain source edition. Availability can vary by territory.

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