Song of Slaves in the Desert
The poem describes a group of slaves who are being transported across the desert. They are exhausted and thirsty, but they continue to sing a song of hope and freedom. The speaker reflects on the resilience and determination of the slaves, who refuse to give up despite their difficult circumstances. The poem is a powerful commentary on the brutality of slavery and the human spirit's capacity for resistance and survival.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1866 · Genre: Poetry, Historical Literature, Spiritual · 859 words
First lines
"Sebah, Oasis of Fezzan, 10th March, 1846. -- This evening the female slaves were unusually excited in singing, and I had the curiosity to ask my negro servant, Said, what they were singing about. As many of them were natives of his own country, he had no difficulty in translating the Mandara or Bornou language. I had often asked the Moors to translate their songs for me, but got no satisfactory account from them. Said at first said, 'Oh, they sing of Rubee' (God). 'What do you mean? ' I replied, impatiently. 'Oh, don't you know? ' he continued, 'they asked God to give them their Atka? ' (certificate of freedom). I inquired, 'Is that all? ' Said: 'No; they say, "Where are we going? The world is large. O God! Where are we going? O God! " I inquired, `What else? ' Said: `They remember their country, Bornou, and say, "Bornou was a pleasant country, full of all good things; but this is a bad country, and we are miserable! " `Do they say anything else? ' Said: 'No; they repeat these words over and over again, and add, "O God! give us our Atka, and let us return again to our dear home."
What this Textopian page supports
Song of Slaves in the Desert is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1866 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: John Greenleaf Whittier
- Date: 1866 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Historical Literature, Spiritual, Narrative, Social Commentary
- Length: 859 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Similar titles
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- The Rendition by John Greenleaf Whittier
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- A Song For The Time by John Greenleaf Whittier
- The Sentence Of John L Brown by John Greenleaf Whittier
Genres
- Poetry — The work is primarily a poem that expresses the emotions and experiences of enslaved individuals through lyrical language.
- Historical Literature — It reflects historical themes of slavery and the experiences of African slaves in the desert, providing insight into their plight.
- Spiritual — The poem contains spiritual elements, invoking God and expressing a longing for freedom and guidance.
- Narrative — It tells a story through the voices of the enslaved, capturing their thoughts and feelings.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Slavery · Abolitionism · Social Justice · Freedom · Desert Landscape · Symbolism · Imagery · Metaphor · Allusion