On the Shores of Tennessee

MOVE my arm-chair, faithful Pompey,In the sunshine bright and strong,For this world is fading, Pompey—Massa won't be with you long;And I fain would hear the south windBring once more the sound to meOf the wavelets softly breakingOn the shores of Tennessee.

"Mournful though the ripples murmurAs they still the story tell,How no vessels float the bannerThat I've loved so long and well,I shall listen to their music,Dreaming that again I seeStars and Stripes on sloop and shallopSailing up the Tennessee.

"And, Pompey, while old massa's waitingFor Death's last despatch to come,If that exiled starry bannerShould come proudly sailing home,You shall greet it, slave no longer;Voice and hand shall both be freeThat shout and point to Union colorsOn the waves of Tennessee."

"Massa's berry kind to Pompey,But ole darkey's happy here,

Where he's tended corn and cottonFor dese many a long-gone year.Over yonder missis' sleeping—No one tends her grave like me:Mebbe she would miss the flowersShe used to love in Tennessee.

"'Pears like she was watching massa;If Pompey should beside him stay,Mebbe she'd remember betterHow for him she used to pray—Telling him that 'way up yonderWhite as snow his soul would be,Ransomed by the Lord of heaven,Out of life in Tennessee."

Silently the tears were rollingDown the poor old dusky face,As he stepped behind his master,In his long-accustomed place.Then a silence fell around themAs they gazed on rock and tree,Pictured in the placid watersOf the rolling Tennessee.

Master, dreaming of the battleWhere he fought by Marion's side,When he bid the haughty TarletonStoop his lordly crest of pride;Man, remembering how yon sleeperOnce he held upon his knee,

Ere she loved the gallant soldier,Ralph Vervain of Tennessee.

Still the south wind fondly lingers'Mid the veteran's silver hair;Still the bondman, close beside him,Stands behind the old arm-chair;With his dark-hued hand uplifted,Shading eyes, he bends to seeWhere the woodland, boldly jutting,Turns aside the Tennessee.

Thus he watches; cloud-born shadowsGlide from tree to mountain-crest,Softly creeping, aye and ever,To the river's yielding breast.Ha! above the foliage yonder,Something flutters wild and free!"Massa! Massa! Hallelujah!The flag's come back to Tennessee!"

"Pompey, hold me on your shoulder,Help me stand on foot once more,That I may salute the colorsAs they pass my cabin-door.Here's the paper signed that frees you,—Give a freeman's shout with me!'God and Union!' be our watchwordEvermore in Tennessee!

Then the trembling voice grew fainter,And the limbs refused to stand;

One prayer to Jesus—and the soldierGlided to that better land.When the flag went down the riverMan and master both were free,While the ring-dove's note was mingledWith the rippling Tennessee.