Classic Poem

Snows are now deep in the valleys;
Drifts lie in mountains appalling.
What but the sunshine can slay them?
What but the rain in its falling?

Miseries cumber the nation,
Weight the chilled earth and outwear it.
Woe to my pitiful people!
How are they able to bear it?

But with the sun comes rejoicing,
Smiting the snows down with slaughter;
See, where the drifts lay in rancor,
Runnels of muddying water.

Freedom's bright sun is now dawning,
Wasting our woes with its glory!
See, where oppression once crushed us,
Vanish the murderous story!