Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882). Complete Poetical Works. 1893.
Poems on SlaveryThe Slave Singing at Midnight
L
He, a Negro and enslavèd,
Sang of Israel’s victory,
Sang of Zion, bright and free.
Sang he from the Hebrew Psalmist,
In a voice so sweet and clear
That I could not choose but hear,
Such as reached the swart Egyptians,
When upon the Red Sea coast
Perished Pharaoh and his host.
Filled my soul with strange emotion;
For its tones by turns were glad,
Sweetly solemn, wildly sad.
Sang of Christ, the Lord arisen.
And an earthquake’s arm of might
Broke their dungeon-gates at night.
Brings the Slave this glad evangel?
And what earthquake’s arm of might
Breaks his dungeon-gates at night?