名人诗歌|Bury Me in a Free Land

Make me a grave where'er you will，

In a lowly plain， or a lofty hill；

Make it among earth's humblest graves，

But not in a land where men are slaves.

I could not rest if around my grave

I heard the steps of a trembling slave；

His shadow above my silent tomb

Would make it a place of fearful gloom.

I could not rest if I heard the tread

Of a coffle gang to the shambles^{1 led，}

And the mother's shriek^{2 of wild despair}

Rise like a curse on the trembling air.

I could not sleep if I saw the lash³

Drinking her blood at each fearful gash^4，

And I saw her babes torn from her breast，

Like trembling doves from their parent nest.

I'd shudder^{5 and start if I heard the bay}

Of bloodhounds seizing their human prey^6，

And I heard the captive plead in vain

As they bound afresh his galling^{7 chain.}

If I saw young girls from their mother's arms

Bartered^{8 and sold for their youthful charms，}

My eye would flash with a mournful flame，

My death-paled cheek grow red with shame.

I would sleep， dear friends， where bloated might

Can rob no man of his dearest right；

My rest shall be calm in any grave

Where none can call his brother a slave.

I ask no monument， proud and high，

To arrest the gaze of the passers-by；

All that my yearning^{9 spirit craves10，}

Is bury me not in a land of slaves.