The Works of James M. Whitfield: America and Other Writings by a Nineteenth-Century African American Poet

FROM THE VISION

Black Nationalism and Emigration 169 FROM THE VISION⁵⁴ CANTO SECOND OH! Superstition! sovereign dame, We praise and bless thy glorious name, Who from thy all prolific womb, Us, thy true children, did’st bring forth, To spread a dark and fearful gloom O’er the inhabitants of earth. ’Neath my broad flag each deadly crime Engendered in the depths of hell, Shall travel on from clime to clime, The tide of human woe to swell. In every region of the earth, Wherever lives a human soul, My myrmidons⁵⁵ shall sally forth, And bind it under thy control, Stir in each breast a deadly ire, Kindle a fierce, devouring fire Of bitter discord, hate and strife, Appeased by naught but human life; And all the highest blessings given To purify the soul of man, And fit it for the joys of heaven, Through us shall prove his direst ban; Even the sexual love bestowed As means to propagate his race, 54. Whitfield published Canto Second of “The Vision” over three issues of Frederick Douglass’ Paper: 24 June, 1 July, and 8 July 1853. Canto First probably appeared in issues that are no longer extant, lost in the fire at Douglass’s Rochester home in 1872. The evidence suggests that the poem consists of two cantos (see nn. 58 and 60). 55. Loyal followers or subordinates, with sources in the legendary Thessalian people who followed their king Achilles into the Trojan War. 170 Black Nationalism and Emigration From its high purposes shall be bowed To consummate his deep disgrace; And burning lust, and lewd desire, Kindling a foul, unhallowed fire, Shall then usurp the place and name Of pure affection’s holy flame. Where pure connubial love should dwell In heaven’s brightest livery dressed, The foulest passions known in hell Shall agitate the tortured breast. By dark intrigue, and secret vile, We’ll scatter in the minds of men, Such lessons of deceit and guile, That fiends shall stand astonished, when They see the scenes of war and woe Which from those dark deceptions flow. Throughout the devastated earth Shall spread such scenes of hellish birth, That honesty, and sterling worth, Known only as fit themes for mirth, Shall swell in woe and want obscure, While round them flaunt on every side, In rank, and pomp, and wealth secure, The pampered slaves of lust and pride. Around the fair domestic hearth Where pure, fraternal love should rest, Where sportive glee and joyous mirth, Should find a home in every breast; The poisonous seed which we will sow With every hostile feeling rife, Shall round those household altars throw The shades of discord, hate and strife. The brother by the brother’s arm Slaughtered in deadly feud shall fall, Black Nationalism and Emigration 171 While all around the rude alarm Shall turn fraternal love to gall.⁵⁶ The father armed against the son, The son against the sire shall rise, And we’ll rejoice, as one by one, They fall a welcome sacrifice Upon thy blood-stained altar stone— For there each wail and heart-wrung groan, Shall sound to thy approving ears Sweet as the music of the spheres, With rank, and pomp, and gold, and gems, With laurel wreaths and diadems, We’ll deck the warrior’s blood-stained brow And make the trampled people bow In humble homage to his state. Supported by their blood and sweat; And he whose devastating hand Spreads deadliest slaughter through the land, Whose only right to rank and fame Are mighty cities wrapt in flame, Whose claims to be considered good Are laurels drenched in human blood, Whose title to the name of wise Lies in the monstrous sacrifice Of human life and happiness, And every good that sweetens life, The spread of woe and wretchedness, Of want and misery, hate and strife— Shall be the one on whom the crowd Will heap applauses long and loud, And cause the truly good and great, Who sought great evils to abate, 56. Bile; rancor. 172 Black Nationalism and Emigration Who labored to reform the State, And by pure teachings to create A love of virtue, truth and right, A hatred of the false and wrong, Which should protect the weak-one’s right, And check the encroachments of the strong— To yield the place of power and fame To him whose only aim through life Has been to gain a mighty name By...