RIGHT in the track where Sherman br Ploughed his red furrow, br Out of the narrow cabin, br Up from the cellar's burrow, br Gathered the little black people, br With freedom newly dowered, br Where, beside their Northern teacher, br Stood the soldier, Howard. br He listened and heard the children br Of the poor and long-enslavëd br Reading the words of Jesus, br Singing the songs of David. br Behold! —the dumb lips speaking, br The blind eyes seeing! br Bones of the Prophet's vision br Warmed into being! br Transformed he saw them passing br Their new life's portal! br Almost it seemed the mortal br Put on the immortal. br No more with the beasts of burden, br No more with stone and clod, br But crowned with glory and honor br In the image of God! br There was the human chattel br Its manhood taking; br There, in each dark, brown statue, br A soul was waking! br The man of many battles, br With tears his eyelids pressing, br Stretched over those dusky foreheads br His one-armed blessing. br And he said: 'Who hears can never br Fear for or doubt you; br What shall I tell the children br Up North about you?' br Then ran round a whisper, a murmur, br Some answer devising; br And a little boy stood up: 'General, br Tell'em we're rising!' br O black boy of Atlanta! br But half was spoken: br The slave's chain and the master's br Alike are broken.