The Slave in the Dismal Swamp Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

In dark fens of the Dismal Swamp
        The hunted Negro lay;
He saw the fire of the midnight camp,
And heard at times a horse's tramp
        And a bloodhound's distant bay.

Where will-o'-the-wisps and glow-worms shine,
        In bulrush and in brake;
Where waving mosses shroud the pine,
And the cedar grows, and the poisonous vine
        Is spotted like the snake;

Where hardly a human foot could pass,
        Or a human heart would dare,
On the quaking turf of the green morass
He crouched in the rank and tangled grass,
        Like a wild beast in his lair.

A poor old slave, infirm and lame;
        Great scars deformed his face;
On his forehead he bore the brand of shame,
And the rags, that hid his mangled frame,
        Were the livery of disgrace.

All things above were bright and fair,
        All things were glad and free;
Lithe squirrels darted here and there,
And wild birds filled the echoing air
        With songs of Liberty!