Formerly A Slave Poem by Herman Melville

Formerly A Slave

Rating: 2.7


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.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
JBPravda 04 September 2022

Out of his tragic undervaluing by the unwashed he washes over them a magnanimous giant.

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Chinedu Dike 25 December 2021

A profound picture poem, well conceived and wonderfully brought forth with conviction.....

1 0 Reply
Susan Williams 31 October 2015

There is a stately grace and beauty to this poem and this woman that is so moving

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Herman Melville

Herman Melville

New York City, New York
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