Like one lone pine against the blast, he stood
Fighting for oneness, one humanity;
Seeing the vision of a brotherhood
Where men as brothers know love's alchemy.
Against discordant patterns of his time
His giant soul rebelled. Through every squall
He steered the ship of State. The gyves of crime
Wounded and scarred his heart. He heard the call
Of brother-man within the chrysalis
Of ebony, and dared to strike the blow
That broke the slavery-chains, bridged the abyss
Of race, and birthed a nation-soul whose glow,
Enhanced by time, lends hope to other lands.
Majestic as the pine this giant stands.
