CHAMPION of those who groan beneath <br />Oppression's iron hand: <br />In view of penury, hate, and death, <br />I see thee fearless stand. <br />Still bearing up thy lofty brow, <br />In the steadfast strength of truth, <br />In manhood sealing well the vow <br />And promise of thy youth. <br />Go on, for thou hast chosen well; <br />On in the strength of God! <br />Long as one human heart shall swell <br />Beneath the tyrant's rod. <br />Speak in a slumbering nation's ear, <br />As thou hast ever spoken, <br />Until the dead in sin shall hear, <br />The fetter's link be broken! <br />I love thee with a brother's love, <br />I feel my pulses thrill, <br />To mark thy Spirit soar above <br />The cloud of human ill. <br />My heart hath leaped to answer thine, <br />And echo back thy words, <br />As leaps the warrior's at the shine <br />And flash of kindred swords! <br />They tell me thou art rash and vain, <br />A searcher after fame; <br />That thou art striving but to gain <br />A long-enduring name; <br />That thou hast nerved the Afric's hand <br />And steeled the Afric's heart, <br />To shake aloft his vengeful brand, <br />And rend his chain apart. <br />Have I not known thee well, and read <br />Thy mighty purpose long? <br />And watched the trials which have made <br />Thy human spirit strong? <br />And shall the slanderer's demon breath <br />Avail with one like me, <br />To dim the sunshine of my faith <br />And earnest trust in thee? <br />Go on, the dagger's point may glare <br />Amid thy pathway's gloom; <br />The fate which sternly threatens there <br />Is glorious martyrdom! <br />Then onward with a martyr's zeal; <br />And wait thy sure reward <br />When man to man no more shall kneel, <br />And God alone be Lord!<br /><br />John Greenleaf Whittier<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-william-lloyd-garrison/
