Formerly A Slave Poem by Herman Melville
Formerly A Slave
The sufferance of her race is shown,
And retrospect of life,
Which now too late deliverance dawns upon;
Yet is she not at strife.
Her children's children they shall know
The good withheld from her;
And so her reverie takes prophetic cheer--
In spirit she sees the stir.
Far down the depth of thousand years,
And marks the revel shine;
Her dusky face is lit with sober light,
Sibylline, yet benign.
A profound picture poem, well conceived and wonderfully brought forth with conviction.....
There is a stately grace and beauty to this poem and this woman that is so moving
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Delivering Poems Around The World
Poems are the property of their respective owners. All information has been reproduced here for educational and informational purposes to benefit site visitors, and is provided at no charge...
8/5/2026 7:38:00 AM # rel_20260803T153344Z_4267e77
Out of his tragic undervaluing by the unwashed he washes over them a magnanimous giant.