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The Devil Called John Brown

A Poem

By Conor MatthewsPublished 2 years ago • 1 min read
Top Story - March 2025
The Devil Called John Brown
Photo by Hussain Badshah on Unsplash

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is written from the perspective of a Southerner character. I don't condone their viewpoint. Yes, I do feel like I have to clarify this; this is the Internet and irony is dead, apparently. Enjoy.

John Brown, O’ John Brown!

You’re treason and sedition,

Nothing but a Yankee devil,

Of myth and superstition.

You took our property,

You took our way of life,

If you were a decent man,

You wouldn’t have taken a wife.

You call yourself a Christian,

As you free our slaves,

And race them up north,

On the road Lincoln paves.

John Brown, O’ John Brown!

What wickedness you bring,

A hero to the damned,

And the drinking songs they sing.

Why must my Daddy,

Loose his farm in the night,

Just because you decided,

Freeing slaves was right?

If you were half the man,

The papers say you are,

You’d fight me up close,

Instead of cleverly from afar.

John Brown, O’ John Brown!

There’ll be no tales for you,

You’ll be forgotten to time,

Despite the good you do.

You think you’ll be recalled,

As an American saviour,

As you ride swiftly in the night;

An abolitionist crusader.

You say you love all,

Next you’ll free the pig pen;

Who are you to decide,

The fate of other men?

Balladfact or fictionsocial commentary

About the Creator

Conor Matthews

Writer. Opinions are my own. https://ko-fi.com/conormatthews

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    Written by Conor Matthews