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Poem
October 12, 1812
Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser
Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
What is this article about?
A narrative frames the lamenting song of Sambo, an enslaved African in Virginia, decrying his toil, abuse, family separation, and lack of liberty amid white men's hypocrisy.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
The Virginia Negro's Song.
Lately, by a Mansion of opulence, where the lordlings of the South riot in luxury, at the expense of the "black man's toils," and offer their orgies to the daemon of democracy, my attention was arrested by the plaint strains of an African slave, in an adjoining field, on whose cheek the tear mingled with the sweat, and descended to his feet. My ear caught the following fragment of the poor negro's song.
Sad and hungry—all forlorn,
Negro work from early morn.
Drear the day and sad the night
Negro's woes find no respite.
If I toil I nothing gain.
Joy ne'er comes to pay for pain.
Master whip me when he like;
Kill me if I dare to strike.
I love Dinah—she love me;
We had little children three:
Dinah's sold—and we must part,
Oh! breaks poor Sambo's heart!
White man talk of liberty!
Why not negro too be free?
The lash of the driver forced a scream of anguish that moment from Sambo, and I heard no more.
Lately, by a Mansion of opulence, where the lordlings of the South riot in luxury, at the expense of the "black man's toils," and offer their orgies to the daemon of democracy, my attention was arrested by the plaint strains of an African slave, in an adjoining field, on whose cheek the tear mingled with the sweat, and descended to his feet. My ear caught the following fragment of the poor negro's song.
Sad and hungry—all forlorn,
Negro work from early morn.
Drear the day and sad the night
Negro's woes find no respite.
If I toil I nothing gain.
Joy ne'er comes to pay for pain.
Master whip me when he like;
Kill me if I dare to strike.
I love Dinah—she love me;
We had little children three:
Dinah's sold—and we must part,
Oh! breaks poor Sambo's heart!
White man talk of liberty!
Why not negro too be free?
The lash of the driver forced a scream of anguish that moment from Sambo, and I heard no more.
What sub-type of article is it?
Song
Ballad
What themes does it cover?
Slavery Abolition
Liberty Independence
What keywords are associated?
Virginia Slave
Negro Song
Sambo Dinah
Toil Whip
Liberty Freedom
Poem Details
Title
The Virginia Negro's Song.
Subject
Slave's Lament In Virginia
Key Lines
Sad And Hungry—All Forlorn,
Negro Work From Early Morn.
I Love Dinah—She Love Me;
We Had Little Children Three:
White Man Talk Of Liberty!
Why Not Negro Too Be Free?