Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
America: Vols. XXV–XXIX. 1876–79.
On the Shores of the Tennessee
By Ethel Lynn Beers (1827–1879)“M
In the sunshine bright and strong,
For this world is fading, Pompey,—
Massa won’t be with you long;
And I fain would hear the south-wind
Bring once more the sound to me,
Of the wavelets softly breaking
On the shores of Tennessee.
As they still the story tell,
How no vessels float the banner
That I ’ve loved so long and well.
I shall listen to their music,
Dreaming that again I see
Stars and Stripes on sloop and shallop
Sailing up the Tennessee.
For Death’s last despatch to come,
If that exiled, starry banner
Should come proudly sailing home,
You shall greet it, slave no longer;—
Voice and hand shall both be free
That shout and point to Union colors
On the waves of Tennessee.”
But ole darkey ’s happy here,
Where he ’s tended corn and cotton
For ’ese many a long-gone year.
Over yonder Missis’ sleeping,—
No one tends her grave like me;
Mebbie she would miss the flowers
She used to love in Tennessee.
If Pompey should beside him stay;
Mebbie she ’d remember better
How for him she used to pray;
Telling him that way up yonder
White as snow his soul would be,
If he served the Lord of Heaven
While he lived in Tennessee.”
Down the poor old dusky face,
As he stepped behind his master,
In his long-accustomed place.
Then a silence fell around them,
As they gazed on rock and tree
Pictured in the placid waters
Of the rolling Tennessee;
Where he fought by Marion’s side,
When he bid the haughty Tarleton
Stoop his lordly crest of pride;
Man, remembering how yon sleeper
Once he held upon his knee,
Ere she loved the gallant soldier,
Ralph Vervair of Tennessee.
Mid the veteran’s silver hair;
Still the bondman close beside him
Stands behind the old arm-chair.
With his dark-hued hand uplifted,
Shading eyes, he bends to see
Where the woodland, boldly jutting,
Turns aside the Tennessee.
Glide from tree to mountain crest,
Softly creeping, aye and ever
To the river’s yielding breast.
Ha! above the foliage yonder
Something flutters wild and free!
“Massa! Massa! Hallelujah!
The flag ’s come back to Tennessee!”
Help me stand on foot once more,
That I may salute the colors
As they pass my cabin door;
Here ’s the paper signed that frees you,
Give a freeman’s shout with me,—
‘God and Union!’ be our watchword
Evermore in Tennessee.”
And the limbs refused to stand;
One prayer to Jesus,—and the soldier
Glided to that better land.
When the flag went down the river
Man and master both were free,
While the ringdove’s note was mingled
With the rippling Tennessee.