How felt he when he first was told
A slave he ceased to be
How proudly beat his heart, when first
He knew that he was free!
To noblest feelings of the soul
To glow at once began,
He knelt no more, his thoughts were raised
He felt himself a man.
He looked above – The breath of heaven
Around him freshly blew;
He smiled exultingly to see
As the wild birds as they flew,
He looked upon the running stream
That ‘neath him rolled away;
Then thought on winds and birds,and floods,
And cried, I’m free as they !
Oh freedom ! there is something dear
E’en in thy very name,
That lights the altar of the soul
With everlasting flame.
Success attend the patriot sword,
That is unsheathed for thee !
And glory to the breast that bleeds,
Bleeds nobody to be free !
Blest be the generous hand that breaks
The chain a tyrrant gave,
And, feeling for degraded man,
Gives freedom to the slave.
~H.L.V. DEROZIO
THE POETIC OIKOS 