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by Claude Mckay (1890 - 1948)

The lynching 
Language: English 
His spirit in smoke ascended to high heaven.
His father, by the cruelest way of pain,
Had bidden him to his bosom once again;
The awful sin remained still unforgiven.
All night a bright and solitary star
(Perchance the one that ever guided him,
Yet gave him up at last to Fate's wild whim)
Hung pitifully o'er the swinging char.
Day dawned, and soon the mixed crowds came to view
The ghastly body swaying in the sun:
The women thronged to look, but never a one
Showed sorrow in her eyes of steely blue;
And little lads, lynchers that were to be,
Danced round the dreadful thing in fiendish glee.

Text Authorship:

  • by Claude Mckay (1890 - 1948), "The lynching" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

  • by Robert Owens (1925 - 2017), "The lynching", op. 41 no. 1 [baritone and piano], from 3 Songs for Baritone and Piano, no. 1. [ sung text not verified ]

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-10-26
Line count: 14
Word count: 110

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