Poems by George Moses Horton

From The Black Bard of North Carolina: George Moses Horton and His Poetry, edited by Joan Sherman. Copyright 1997, The University of North Carolina Press. Reproduction in any form is prohibited without the express permission of the Press. For additional information about this book, see the links below.


    Farewell to Frances

    Farewell! If ne'er I see thee more,
    Though distant calls my flight impel,
    I shall not less thy grace adore,
    So friend forever fare thee well.

    Farewell forever did I say?
    What! never more thy face to see?
    Then take the last fond look to-day,
    And still to-morrow think of me.

    Farewell, alas! the tragic sound,
    Has many a tender bosom torn,
    While desolation spread around,
    Deserted friendship left to mourn.

    Farewell, awakes the sleeping tear,
    The dormant rill from sorrow's eye,
    Expressed from one by nature dear,
    Whose bosom heaves the latent sigh.

    Farewell is but departure's tale,
    When fond association ends,
    And fate expands her lofty sail,
    to show the distant flight of friends.

    Alas! and if we sure must part,
    Far separated long to dwell,
    I leave thee with a broken heart,
    So friend forever fare thee well.

    I leave thee, but forget thee never,
    Words cannot my feeling tell,
    Fare thee well, and if forever,
    Still forever fare thee well.





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