Raymond Garfield Dandridge, "Awake" (1917)
Awake, my sleeping Ethiopia;
Proclaim inheritance thine own !
Fan thy smold'ring embers
Into quick'ning flame, to rid the dross
And purify thy better self.
Ever onward mighty millions
Mount, yon elevated plane !
Within thyself, thou hast
The power to rise, and risen
Stand ! in union firm.
Behold! fullfilment of His promise;
Thy- "Triumphant Star" ascendeth in the sky.
The Ermine, Crown and Sceptre are awaiting
Thy "Coronation Day" is drawing nigh.
Published in Penciled Poems, 1917