Poem-a-Day - "Emancipation" by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Poem-a-Day is reader-supported. Your gift today will help the Academy of American Poets continue to publish the work of 260 poets each year, and share this series with 300,000 readers every day.
June 19, 2022 

Emancipation

Paul Laurence Dunbar

Fling out your banners, your honors be bringing,
Raise to the ether your paeans of praise.
Strike every chord and let music be ringing!
Celebrate freely this day of all days.

Few are the years since that notable blessing,
Raised you from slaves to the powers of men.
Each year has seen you my brothers progressing,
Never to sink to that level again.

Perched on your shoulders sits Liberty smiling,
Perched where the eyes of the nations can see.
Keep from her pinions all contact defiling;
Show by your deeds what you’re destined to be.

Press boldly forward nor waver, nor falter.
Blood has been freely poured out in your cause,
Lives sacrificed upon Liberty’s alter.
Press to the front, it were craven to pause.

Look to the heights that are worth your attaining
Keep your feet firm in the path to the goal.
Toward noble deeds every effort be straining.
Worthy ambition is food for the soul!

Up! Men and brothers, be noble, be earnest!
Ripe is the time and success is assured;
Know that your fate was the hardest and sternest
When through those lash-ringing days you endured.

Never again shall the manacles gall you
Never again shall the whip stroke defame!
Nobles and Freemen, your destinies call you
Onward to honor, to glory and fame.

This poem is in the public domain. Published in Poem-a-Day on June 19, 2022, by the Academy of American Poets.

Subscribe to the Poem-a-Day Podcast 

  

“Emancipation” was written on September 22, 1890 by an eighteen-year-old Paul Laurence Dunbar.

Paul Laurence Dunbar, born on June 27, 1872 in Dayton, Ohio, was one of the first African American poets to gain national recognition. He is the author of several collections of poetry and prose, including Lyrics of the Hearthside (Dodd, Mead and Co., 1899) and The Uncalled (Dodd, Mead and Co., 1898). He died on February 9, 1906.

“We are Marching” by Carrie Law Morgan Figgs
read more
“Emancipation” by Priscilla Jane Thompson
read more

Thanks to Jos Charles, author of feeld (Milkweed Editions, 2018), who curated Poem-a-Day for this month’s weekdays. Read or listen to a Q&A about Charles’s curatorial approach and find out more about our guest editors for the year
This free, daily series is made possible by our readers. If you’re able, please consider donating to support this work.
Become a monthly sustainer
join
Make a one-time gift
donate
Copyright © 2022 The Academy of American Poets, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.

Our mailing address is:
The Academy of American Poets
75 Maiden Lane
St #901
New York, NY 10038

Add us to your address book


View this email in your browser

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Older messages

"My Love" by Bruce Nugent

Saturday, June 18, 2022

My love has hair / Like midnight, Facebook Twitter Instagram Poem-a-Day is reader-supported. Your gift today will help the Academy of American Poets continue to publish the work of 260 poets each year,

"Mentally missturbed" by Ava Hofmann

Friday, June 17, 2022

Mentally missturbed i say saying sd Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day June 17, 2022 Mentally missturbed Ava Hofmann Copyright © 2022 by Ava Hofmann. Originally published in Poem-a-Day on

"dent" by Henneh Kyereh Kwaku

Friday, June 17, 2022

the seat / is upon us / again Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day June 15, 2022 dent Henneh Kyereh Kwaku i. the seat is upon us again solemn, yet a reminder of death faith, love &

"our general banality" by fahima ife

Friday, June 17, 2022

was sex and more of it. sex and talk of it. Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day June 16, 2022 our general banality fahima ife was sex and more of it. sex and talk of it. sex and sexuality and

2022 Summer Books List for Young Readers

Friday, June 17, 2022

This summer, we encourage you to check out these poetry titles for the young readers in your life View this email in your browser A Summer Books List for Young Readers This summer, we encourage you to

You Might Also Like

Update from The Weekly Wrap

Thursday, November 7, 2024

*deep breath* ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Poems and resources for November

Thursday, November 7, 2024

Curated for Thanksgiving, Native American Heritage Month, and more Facebook Twitter Instagram November 2024 poems to read and share November is Native American Heritage Month. Celebrate with the

Let It Go

Thursday, November 7, 2024

Back at home ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Let It Go

Thursday, November 7, 2024

Back at home ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

"We'll float between two worlds—"

Thursday, November 7, 2024

November 7, 2024 a poem from our archive (2009) Read more by former Chancellor Ellen Bryant Voigt #poetrynearyou Tonight, join us for Gather in Poems, a free and virtual reading in the spirit of

Car-Centric Design Is A Real Thing

Thursday, November 7, 2024

An absurd example of something we've gotten very used to ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

A Facinating Collection of Hungarian Sign Painting Photos, 1906–1976

Thursday, November 7, 2024

Women feature prominently in these archival images of signs and sign painters at work in Hungary. BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & Culture bl.ag online weekly (all

"Someday I’ll Love—" by Emerald ᏃᏈᏏ GoingSnake

Thursday, November 7, 2024

like I dreamt of the lamb—slaughtered, / forgotten, Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day November 7, 2024 Someday I'll Love— Emerald ᏃᏈᏏ GoingSnake After Frank O'Hara like I dreamt of

Maybe don’t make your bed this morning

Thursday, November 7, 2024

— Check out what we Skimm'd for you today November 7, 2024 Subscribe Read in browser But first: a sweater-inspired throw blanket we love Update location or View forecast Quote of the Day "

This Winter 2024 Skirt Trend Belongs At *Every* Holiday Party

Thursday, November 7, 2024

Stunning. The Zoe Report Daily The Zoe Report 11.6.2024 This Winter 2024 Skirt Trend Belongs At *Every* Holiday Party You Attend (Style) This Winter 2024 Skirt Trend Belongs At *Every* Holiday Party