Page:A Treasury of South African Poetry.djvu/203

 The old man paused, a choking sob
 * Burst from his heart of steel.

Ah! white men, do ye ever think
 * The black man too can feel

Those large emotions of the heart
 * Which home and kindred wake,

Which swell up in our panting breasts
 * As if our hearts would break?

While still he wept, a lovely maid
 * Crept from a wood hard by;

Poor Amakeya's skin was black,
 * But Love beamed from her eye

As brightly as it beameth forth
 * In lordly homes of ease,

In happier climes, where sound of war
 * Ne'er scared off love-born Peace.

She stole close to the sobbing chief,
 * And look'd up in his face

With all a woman's tenderness—
 * Eve's universal grace.

"My father, O my father! list,
 * Ah! weep not so, I pray;

But come with me, I'll comfort thee,
 * And all thy grief allay."

She took him gently by the hand,
 * And led him from that soil

Mark'd with the blood of those he loved
 * And all war's horrid toil.