| Louis Untermeyer, ed. (18851977). Modern American Poetry. 1919. |
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| James Oppenheim. 1882 |
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| 93. The Slave |
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| THEY set the slave free, striking off his chains... | |
| Then he was as much of a slave as ever. | |
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| He was still chained to servility, | |
| He was still manacled to indolence and sloth, | |
| He was still bound by fear and superstition, | 5 |
| By ignorance, suspicion, and savagery... | |
| His slavery was not in the chains, | |
| But in himself.... | |
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| They can only set free men free... | |
| And there is no need of that: | 10 |
| Free men set themselves free. | |
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