#AmericanWriters
My name is Johnson— Madam Alberta K. The Madam stands for business. I’m smart that way. I had a
Because my mouth Is wide with laughter And my throat Is deep with song, You do not think
Have you dug the spill Of Sugar Hill? Cast your gims On this sepia thrill: Brown sugar lassie,
How still, How strangely still The water is today, It is not good For water
We passed their graves: The dead men there, Winners or losers, Did not care. In the dark
It would be nice In any case, To someday meet you Face to face Walking down
Oh, silver tree! Oh, shining rivers of the soul! In a Harlem cabaret Six long—headed jazzers play. A dancing girl whose eyes are bold
I would liken you To a night without stars Were it not for your eyes. I would liken you To a sleep without dreams
I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh,
He glides so swiftly Back into the grass— Gives me the courtesy of road To let me pass, That I am half ashamed
You say I O.K.ed LONG DISTANCE? O.K.ed it when? My goodness, Central That was then!
Now dreams Are not available To the dreamers, Nor songs To the singers.
2 and 2 are 4. 4 and 4 are 8. But what would happen If the last 4 was late? And how would it be
It was a long time ago. I have almost forgotten my dream. But it was there then, In front of me, Bright like a sun—
Only dumb guys fight. If I wasn’t dumb I wouldn’t be fightin’. I could make six dollars a day On the docks
