I would be wandering in distant fields <br />Where man, and bird, and beast, lives leisurely, <br />And the old earth is kind, and ever yields <br />Her goodly gifts to all her children free; <br />Where life is fairer, lighter, less demanding, <br />And boys and girls have time and space for play <br />Before they come to years of understanding-- <br />Somewhere I would be singing, far away. <br />For life is greater than the thousand wars <br />Men wage for it in their insatiate lust, <br />And will remain like the eternal stars, <br />When all that shines to-day is drift and dust <br />But I am bound with you in your mean graves, <br />O black men, simple slaves of ruthless slaves.<br /><br />Claude McKay<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/in-bondage/
