Public-domain source text

To America

by James Weldon Johnson

From Standard Ebooks · standardebooks/james-weldon-johnson_poetry

How would you have us, as we are? Or sinking ’neath the load we bear? Our eyes fixed forward on a star? Or gazing empty at despair?

Rising or falling? Men or things? With dragging pace or footsteps fleet? Strong, willing sinews in your wings? Or tightening chains about your feet?

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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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