The+Slave's+Dream

The Slave's Dream Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1842)

Beside the ungathered rice he lay, His sickle in his hand; His breast was bare, his matted hair Was buried in the sand. Again, in the mist and shadow of sleep, He saw his Native Land.

Wide through the landscape of his dreams The lordly Niger flowed; Beneath the palm-trees on the plain Once more a king he strode; And heard the tinkling caravans Descend the mountain-road.

He saw once more his dark-eyed queen <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Among her children stand; <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">They clasped his neck, they kissed his cheeks, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">They held him by the hand!-- <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">A tear burst from the sleeper's lids <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">And fell into the sand.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">And then at furious speed he rode <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Along the Niger's bank; <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">His bridle-reins were golden chains, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">And, with a martial clank, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">At each leap he could feel his scabbard of steel <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Smiting his stallion's flank.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Before him, like a blood-red flag, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">The bright flamingoes flew; <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">From morn till night he followed their flight, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">O'er plains where the tamarind grew, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Till he saw the roofs of Caffre huts, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">And the ocean rose to view.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">At night he heard the lion roar, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">And the hyena scream, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">And the river-horse, as he crushed the reeds <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Beside some hidden stream; <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">And it passed, like a glorious roll of drums, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Through the triumph of his dream.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">The forests, with their myriad tongues, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Shouted of liberty; <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">And the Blast of the Desert cried aloud, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">With a voice so wild and free, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">That he started in his sleep and smiled <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">At their tempestuous glee.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">He did not feel the driver's whip, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Nor the burning heat of day; <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">For Death had illumined the Land of Sleep, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">And his lifeless body lay <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">A worn-out fetter, that the soul <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Had broken and thrown away!

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Accessed at: All Poetry, http://allpoetry.com/poem/8447411-The_Slaves_Dream-by-Henry_Wadsworth_Longfellow