George Moses Horton, Myself

This text is part of the Teaching Hard History Text Library and aligns with Key Concepts 9 and 10.

I feel myself in need 

Of the inspiring strains of ancient lore, 

My heart to lift, my empty mind to feed, 

And all the world explore. 

I know that I am old 

And never can recover what is past, 

But for the future may some light unfold 

And soar from ages blast. 

I feel resolved to try, 

My wish to prove, my calling to pursue, 

Or mount up from the earth into the sky, 

To show what Heaven can do. 

My genius from a boy, 

Has fluttered like a bird within my heart; 

But could not thus confined her powers employ, 

Impatient to depart. 

She like a restless bird, 

Would spread her wing, her power to be unfurl’d, 

And let her songs be loudly heard, 

 And dart from world to world.