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George Moses Horton

George Moses Horton

The Slave’s Complaint

Am I sadly cast aside,
  On misfortune’s rugged tide?
  Will the world my pains deride
        Forever?
  Must I dwell in Slavery’s night,
  And all pleasure take its flight,
  Far beyond my feeble sight,
        Forever?
  Worst of all, must Hope grow dim,
 And withhold her cheering beam?
 Rather let me sleep and dream
       Forever!
 
 Something still my heart surveys,
 Groping through this dreary maze;
 Is it Hope?—then burn and blaze
       Forever!
 
 Leave me not a wretch confined,
 Altogether lame and blind—
 Unto gross despair consigned,
       Forever!
 
 Heaven! in whom can I confide?
 Canst thou not for all provide?
 Condescend to be my guide
       Forever:
 
 And when this transient life shall end,
 Oh, may some kind eternal friend
 Bid me from servitude ascend,
       Forever!

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Other works by George Moses Horton...
False Weight

If thou art fair, deal, lady, fair… And let the scales be even; Forbid the poising beam to rear, And pull thee down from heaven. Dost thou desire to die in peace,
The Setting Sun

’Tis sweet to trace the setting su… Wheel blushing down the west; When his diurnal race is run, The traveller stops the gloom to s… And lodge his bones to rest.
On the Evening and Morning

When Evening bids the Sun to rest… Unwearied Ether sets her lamps on… Lit by one torch, each is supplied… Till all the candles in the concav… The night-hawk now, with his noctu…
On Hearing of the Intention of a Gentleman to Purchase the Poet’s Freedom

When on life’s ocean first I spre… I then implored a mild auspicious… And from the slippery strand I to… And sought the peaceful haven of d… Tyrannic storms arose upon my soul…
On the Truth of the Saviour

E’en John the Baptist did not kno… Who Christ the Lord could be, And bade his own disciples go The strange event to see. They said, Art thou the one of wh…
Mr. Clay’s Reception at Raleigh, April, 1844

Salute the august train! a scene s… With every tuneful band; The mighty brave, His country bound to save, Extends his aiding hand;
True Friendship

Friendship, thou balm for ev’ry il… I must aspire to thee; Whose breezes bid the heart be sti… And render sweet the patient’s pil… And set the pris’ner free.
To Miss Tempe

Bless’d hope, when Tempe takes he… And leaves her lass-lorn lover to… Like Luna mantling o’er the brow… Thy glowing wing dispels the gloom… Yes, wondrous hope, when Tempe sa…
Death of Gen. Jackson - an Eulogy

Hark! from the mighty Hero’s tomb… I hear a voice proclaim! A sound which fills the world with… But magnifies his name. His flight from time let braves de…
The Traveller

’Tis sweet to think of home. When from my native clime, Mid lonely vallies pensive far I… Mid rocks and hills where waters r… ’Tis sweet to think of home.
Early Affection

I lov’d thee from the earliest daw… When first I saw thy beauty’s ray… And will, until life’s eve comes o… And beauty’s blossom fades away; And when all things go well with t…
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The Tipler to His Bottle

What hast thou ever done for me? Defeated every good endeavor; I never can through life agree To place my confidence in thee, Not ever, no, never!
Pride in Heaven

On heaven’s ethereal plain, Where hostile rage ambition first… When the arch rebel strove himself… And take Jehovah’s throne. Swift to the fight the seraphim
The Musical Chamber

I TRUST that my friends will re… Whilst I these my pleasures displ… Resort to my musical chamber, The laurel crown’d desert in May. Resort to this chamber at leisure,
The Powers of Love

It lifts the poor man from his cel… To fortune’s bright alcove; Its mighty sway few, few can tell, Mid envious foes it conquers ill; There’s nothing half like love.



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