Classic Poem

Liberty-imparting Spirit!
Breathe on Afric's fetter'd race;
That, through thee, they may inherit
This divinest gift of grace.

Thou canst break their bonds asunder,
Thou canst cast their yoke away;
Speak! and in a voice of thunder,
Which th' oppressor must obey.

Tell the man, who dares to barter
In his brother's flesh and blood,
He has broke the noble charter
Of our common brotherhood;

And for this will stand indicted
At the judgment-seat on high,
There to be by God requited
For usurp'd authority!

But to all th' oppress'd, heart-broken,
Speak in tones of gentlest love;
And may ev'ry word, thus spoken,
Bear a blessing from above.

Tell them of a freedom greater
Than of man was ever won;
Giv'n them by their great Creator,
In his Spirit, through his Son!

Where that Spirit has possession
Of his heart, the slave is free;
And in spite of man's oppression,
Is a child of liberty!