Where Britannia's emerald isles <br />Gem the Caribbean sea, <br />And an endless summer smiles, <br />Lo! the negro thrall is free! <br />Yet not on Columbia's plains, <br />Hath the sun of freedom risen: <br />Here, in darkness and in chains, <br />Toiling millions pine in prison. <br /> <br /> <br />Shout! ye islands disenthralled, <br />Point the finger, as in scorn, <br />At a country that is called <br />Freedom's home, where men are born <br />Heirs, for life, to chains and whips,- <br />Bondmen, who have never known <br />Wife, child, parent, that their lips <br />Ever dared to call their own. <br /> <br /> <br />Yet, a Christian land is this! <br />Yea, and ministers of Christ <br />Slavery's foot, in homage, kiss; <br />And their brother, who is priced <br />Higher than their Saviour, even, <br />Do they into bondage sell;- <br />Pleading thus the cause of Heaven, <br />Serving thus the cause of hell. <br /> <br /> <br />Holy Father, let thy word, <br />Spoken by thy prophets old, <br />By the pliant priest be heard; <br />And let lips, that now are cold, <br />(Chilled by Mammon's golden wand!) <br />With our nation's 'burden' glow, <br />Till the free man and the bond <br />Shout for Slavery's overthrow!<br /><br />John Pierpont<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/hymn-for-the-first-of-august/
