Formerly A Slave
An idealized Portrait, by E. Vedder, in the Spring Exhibition of the National Academy, 1865 The sufferance of her race is shown, And retrospect of life, Which now too late deliverance dawns upon; Yet is she not at strife. Her children's children they shall know The good withheld from her; And so her reverie takes prophetic cheer-- In spirit she sees the stir. Far down the depth of thousand years, And marks the revel shine; Her dusky face is lit with sober light, Sibylline, yet benign.
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"An idealized Portrait, by E. Vedder, in the Spring Exhibition of the National Academy, 1865..."
"Formerly A Slave" is a quintessential example of Herman Melville's signature style... ### Why We Love This Line At Linespedia, we believe that poetry is the ultimate sanctuary for the soul...