In the Tribune today Ron Grossman wrote about New Year's Day in 1863 at Quinn Chapel, at a black church in Chicago, where they hosted a celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation. After the scripture was read and the choir sang, here is a poem that J. Stanley wrote and recited for the occasion:


What It Is to Be a Slave

~ J. Stanley

Oh! What is a slave? 'Tis to tremble with dread,

And bow to the despot an infamous head;

And when he has spurned thee, to beg and implore,

That he in his kindness would trample thee more.

.

'Tis to gaze in despair on the sun's living ray,

Like a thing without soul or a creature of clay;

To lose all affection and sympathy dear,

And all passions of man — save the passion of fear.

Having just read Bob's poems, I read this one again that I posted last night. Yes, it rhymes, but this one does not sound superficial to me. I really like it.