TRANSPIERC’D with many a streaming wound,
The Negro lay, invoking death :
His blood o’erflowe’d the reeking ground
He, gasping, drew his languid breath.
His sable cheek was ghastly, cold ;
Convulsive groans their prison broke :
His eyes in fearful horror roll’d,
While thus the wretch his anguish spoke:
” Accursed be the Christian race ;
Insatiate is their iron foul :
To hunt our sons their fav’rite chace
They goad and lash without control.
” Torn from our frantic mother’s breast,
We bear our tyrant’s galling chains ;
Deny’d e’en death, that lulls to rest,
The keenest woe, and fiercest pains.
” From sun to sun the Negro toils ;
No smiles approve his trusty care ;
And, when th’ indignant mind recoils,
His doom is whips, and black despair.
” Yet Christians teach faith, hope, and love :
Their God of mercy oft implore ;
But can barbarians mercy prove,
Or a benignant God adore?
” Hear then my groans, oh, Christian God !
Thy curses hurl but, no ! forbear.
Let Christians wield Oppression’s rod,
Spread hatred, woe, and wild despair.
” While I a nobler course pursue,
Yes, let me die as I would live !
Yes, let me teach this Christian crew,
The dying Negro can forgive.
” And if, indeed, that pow’r be thine,
O Christian God! In mercy move
Thy people’s hearts, by pow’r divine,
To justice, gentleness, and love.”
The suff’rer ceas’d, death chilled his veins ;
His mangl’d limbs grew stiff and cold ;
Yet whips nor racks inflict the pains
Men feel who barter Man for Gold.
(Fanny Holcroft)
More Poetry from Fanny Holcroft:
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Love Poems, Man Poems, God Poems, Death & Dying Poems, Christianity Poems, Hope Poems, Gold Poems, Belief & Faith Poems, Forgiveness Poems, Hatred Poems, Justice PoemsBased on Keywords: inflict, recoils, barbarians, mangl, transpierc