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Poem
December 15, 1837
The Liberator
Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
What is this article about?
A lament poem addressed to America, decrying national sins including slavery, broken treaties with Native Americans, corruption in laws and religion, and violence, calling for repentance. Dated November 30, 1837.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
For the Liberator.
STANZAS.
Oh! that mine head were waters,
And mine eyes a fount unsealed,
That I might weep our nation's sins,
So fearfully revealed.
My country, oh! my country!
The curse is on thee falling;
Thou art sinking from thy giddy height,
To anarchy appalling.
The blood of martyrs stains thee
The curse of slavery reigns!
Billions in anguish cry to thee,
And answer find in chains!
Thy laws are framed by miserable
Thy rulers work deceit—
The strong are joined in cruel league,
To trample on the weak.
Thy children of the forest,
Are outraged every hour;
And broken faith and treaties tell us,
The mad effects of power.
The stranger in thy cities,
Thou hast wantonly oppressed,
And wilt not suffer him to dwell
Where'er it likes him best.
Thy priests, their altars leaving,
Have sold themselves to crime;—
And boldly prove from Holy Writ,
The source of sin divine.
Thy prophets cry unheeded,.
To check thy downward course;
And meet with scorn and violence,
Instead of thy remorse.
To every mischief of the land,
Thou hast opened wide the door—
Thy cup of evil to the brim,
And yet, thou grasps at more.
In blood thy code is written,
Cementing every part-
The law of violence thy creed,
And murder at thy heart.
My country, oh! my country!
What can prevent thy name
From sinking low in infamy,
With cities of the plain?
Go, spread the sackcloth o'er thee,
And scatter ashes round,-
Perchance a God of mercy
May yet of thee be found.
EDITH
11th mo. 30, 1837.
STANZAS.
Oh! that mine head were waters,
And mine eyes a fount unsealed,
That I might weep our nation's sins,
So fearfully revealed.
My country, oh! my country!
The curse is on thee falling;
Thou art sinking from thy giddy height,
To anarchy appalling.
The blood of martyrs stains thee
The curse of slavery reigns!
Billions in anguish cry to thee,
And answer find in chains!
Thy laws are framed by miserable
Thy rulers work deceit—
The strong are joined in cruel league,
To trample on the weak.
Thy children of the forest,
Are outraged every hour;
And broken faith and treaties tell us,
The mad effects of power.
The stranger in thy cities,
Thou hast wantonly oppressed,
And wilt not suffer him to dwell
Where'er it likes him best.
Thy priests, their altars leaving,
Have sold themselves to crime;—
And boldly prove from Holy Writ,
The source of sin divine.
Thy prophets cry unheeded,.
To check thy downward course;
And meet with scorn and violence,
Instead of thy remorse.
To every mischief of the land,
Thou hast opened wide the door—
Thy cup of evil to the brim,
And yet, thou grasps at more.
In blood thy code is written,
Cementing every part-
The law of violence thy creed,
And murder at thy heart.
My country, oh! my country!
What can prevent thy name
From sinking low in infamy,
With cities of the plain?
Go, spread the sackcloth o'er thee,
And scatter ashes round,-
Perchance a God of mercy
May yet of thee be found.
EDITH
11th mo. 30, 1837.
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Slavery Abolition
Political
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
National Sins
Slavery Curse
American Lament
Abolition Plea
Political Corruption
What entities or persons were involved?
Edith
Poem Details
Title
Stanzas.
Author
Edith
Subject
For The Liberator.
Key Lines
Oh! That Mine Head Were Waters,
And Mine Eyes A Fount Unsealed,
That I Might Weep Our Nation's Sins,
So Fearfully Revealed.
My Country, Oh! My Country!
The Curse Is On Thee Falling;
The Blood Of Martyrs Stains Thee
The Curse Of Slavery Reigns!