頌詩譯選
黑人的傾訴
我為我的人民傾訴,
一個可憐被蹂躪的種族,
在號稱自由的地土,
卻沒有自己的住處。
我為我的人民傾訴,
要還給他們應得的權利;
因為他們長久勞苦,
卻沒有收取到利益。
他們被迫耕作莊稼,
卻不能夠得田裏的收成,
雖然從早工作到晚,
在土地上勞苦不停。
我的身上經常帶着
許多次受過鞭打的傷痕,
我為我的人民傾訴
他們仍在鞭下呻吟。
A Negro's Plea
Sojourner Truth
I am pleading for my people,
A poor downtrodden race,
Who dwell in freedom's boasted land,
With no abiding place.
I am plead that my people
May have their rights restored;
For they have long been toiling,
And yet have no reward.
They are forced the crops to culture,
But not for them they yield,
Although both late and early
They labor in the field.
Whilst I bear upon my body
The scars of many a gash,
I am pleading for my people
Who groan beneath the lash.
真理寄居者(Sojourner Truth, 1797?-1883)是一名不識字的黑人女講演家,生而為奴,被賣了五次,後得到自由。她憑記憶學習聖經,致力提倡廢除奴役,並爭取婦女權利。這是她自編自唱的詩歌,經他人代為錄寫。