The Change + 

The blue sky arching overhead, + 

The green turf ’neath my daily tread, + 

All glorified by freedom’s light, + 

Grow fair and lovely to my sight. + 

The very winds that sweep along + 

Seemed burdened with a lovely song, + 

Nor shrieks nor groans of grief or fear, + 

Float on their wings and pain my ear. + 

No more with dull and aching breast, + 

Roused by the horn⁠—I rise from rest + 

Content and cheerful with my lot, + 

I greet the sun and leave my cot. + 

For darling child and loving wife + 

I toil with newly waken’d life; + 

The light that lingers round her smile + 

The shadows from my soul beguile. + 

The pratile of my darling boy + 

Fills my old heart with untold joy; + 

Before his laughter, mirth and song + 

Fade out long scores of grief and wrong. + 

Oh, never did the world appear + 

So lovely to my eye and ear, + 

’Till Freedom came, with Joy and Peace, + 

And bade my hateful bondage cease! + 