#AmericanWriters #BlackWriters
My name is Johnson— Madam Alberta K. The Madam stands for business. I’m smart that way. I had a
Only dumb guys fight. If I wasn’t dumb I wouldn’t be fightin’. I could make six dollars a day On the docks
The census man, The day he came round, Wanted my name To put it down. I said, Johnson,
Children, I come back today To tell you a story of the long da… That I had to climb, that I had t… In order that the race might live… Look at my face —dark as the night…
In an envelope marked: PERSONAL God addressed me a letter. In an envelope marked: PERSONAL
Listen! Dear dream of utter aliveness— Touching my body of utter death— Tell me, O quickly! dream of aliv… The flaming source of your bright…
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—
When Susanna Jones wears red her face is like an ancient cameo Turned brown by the ages. Come with a blast of trumphets, J… When Susanna Jones wears red
The ivory gods, And the ebony gods, And the gods of diamond and jade, Sit silently on their temple shelv… While the people
Let’s go see Old Abe Sitting in the marble and the moon… Sitting lonely in the marble and t… Quiet for ten thousand centuries,… Quiet for a million, million years…
Night funeral In Harlem: Where did they get Them two fine cars? Insurance man, he did not pay—
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
The calm, Cool face of the river Asked me for a kiss.
Have you dug the spill Of Sugar Hill? Cast your gims On this sepia thrill: Brown sugar lassie,
Good morning, daddy! Ain’t you heard The boogie—woogie rumble Of a dream deferred? Listen closely:
