Poems Sigourney 1827/Africa
AFRICA.
Land of the wise!—where science broke
Like morning from chaotic deeps,
Where Moses, holy prophet, woke,
Where Parsons, youthful martyr, sleeps;—
Land of the brave!—where Carthage rear'd
'Gainst haughty Rome a warrior's crest,
Where Cato, like a god revered,
Indignant pierced his patriot breast;—
Land of the scorn'd, the exiled race,
Who fainting 'neath oppressive toil,
With never-ceasing sighs retrace
Their palm-tree's shade, their fathers' soil;
Shall blest Benevolence extend
Her angel reign from sea to sea,
Nor yet one glance of pity bend
Deserted Africa! on thee?—
Did Nature bid the torrid skies
Glare fiercely o'er thy desert glade?—
In heathen gloom benight thine eyes
And cloud thy brow with ebon shade?—
And must thy brother's hatred find
A doom that Nature never gave?—
A curse Creation ne'er design'd,—
The fetter, and the name of slave?—
Haste! lift from Afric's wrongs the veil,
Ere the Eternal Judge arise,
To list the helpless prisoner's wail,
And count the tears from misery's eyes.
Oh! ere the flaming heavens reveal
That frown which none can meet and live,
Teach her before the Throne to kneel
And like her Saviour pray,—"Forgive."