Poema Sobre a Escravidão

História

Negros EUA

Poema:
On Liberty and Slavery:

Alas! And am I born for this,
To wear this slavish chain?
Deprived of all created bliss,
Through hardship, toil and pain!

How long have I in bondage lain,
And languished to be free!
Alas! And must I still complain—
Deprived of liberty.

Oh, Heaven! And is there no relief
This side the silent grave—
To soothe the pain—to quell the grief
And anguish of a slave?

Come Liberty, thou cheerful sound,
Roll through my ravished ears!
Come, let my grief in joys be drowned,
And drive away my fears.

Say unto foul oppression, Cease:
Yes tyrants rage no more,
And let the joyful trump of peace,
Now bid the vassal soar.

Soar on the pinions of that dove
Which long has cooed for thee,
And breathed her notes from Affric’s grove,
The sound of Liberty.

Oh, Liberty! Thou golden prize,
So often sought by blood—
We crave thy sacred sun to rise,
The gift of nature’s God!

Bid Slavery hide her haggard face,
And barbarisms fly:
I scorn to see the sad disgrace
In which enslaved I lie.

Dear Liberty! Upon thy breast,
I languish to respire;
And like the Swan unto her nest,
I’d like to thy smiles retire.

Oh, blest asylum—heavenly balm!
Unto thy boughs I flee—
And in thy shades the storm shall calm,
With songs of Liberty!
GEORGE MOSES HORTON
Tradução:
Sobre a liberdade e escravidão:

Ai de mim! E eu nasci para isso,
Para usar esta cadeia servil?
Privados de toda a felicidade, criada,
Através do sofrimento, labuta e dor!

Quanto tempo eu tenho em cativeiro, repousando,
E definhou ser livre!
Ai de mim! E deve ainda, se queixam,
Privada de liberdade.

Oh, céus! E que não há alívio,
Este lado da sepultura silenciosa,
Para aliviar a dor, para acabar com a dor,
E a angústia de um escravo?

Venha Liberdade, seu som alegre,
Rolar através de meus ouvidos violados!
Venha, vamos a minha tristeza em alegria ser afogado,
E afastar meus medos.

Disse a