Freneau, Philip. "On the Emigration to America and Peopling the Western Country".

Summary

A young man sets off from the despotic Europe to find his happiness in the new found world. He goes to west to tame the nature's reign. At his approach the unsocial Indian retreat further to the darker forests. Observes that the Mississippi should no longer be useless and idle, the commerce plans new usage of it.

The traveller finds no land so blessed as this one, free of kings and priests who enchain the mind, free of slavery. The speaker refuses the east (i.e. Europe, Asia) and provides an optimistic vision of the bright future of America.

Analysis

- a narrative poem describing emigration to America in general

- the description is endowed with the political views of the author

- praises the potential of the new found land and its natural riches

- at the same time may feel sorry for the nature being threatened by actions of men to come

- maybe surprisingly shows no sympathy for the retreating Indian