#Americans #Blacks
In an envelope marked: PERSONAL God addressed me a letter. In an envelope marked: PERSONAL
I went down to the river, I set down on the bank. I tried to think but couldn’t, So I jumped in and sank. I came up once and hollered!
To fling my arms wide In some place of the sun, To whirl and to dance Till the white day is done. Then rest at cool evening
I dream a world where man No other man will scorn, Where love will bless the earth And peace its paths adorn I dream a world where all
The rent man knocked. He said, Howdy—do? I said, What Can I do for you? He said, You know
Down in the bass That steady beat Walking walking walking Like marching feet. Down in the bass
Let America be America again. Let it be the dream it used to be. Let it be the pioneer on the plain Seeking a home where he himself is… (America never was America to me.…
You say I O.K.ed LONG DISTANCE? O.K.ed it when? My goodness, Central That was then!
The census man, The day he came round, Wanted my name To put it down. I said, Johnson,
I work all day, Said Simple John, Myself a house to buy. I work all day, Said Simple John,
The calm, Cool face of the river Asked me for a kiss.
I could take the Harlem night and wrap around you, Take the neon lights and make a cr… Take the Lenox Avenue busses, Taxis, subways,
I’ve known rivers: I’ve known rivers ancient as the w… flow of human blood in human veins My soul has grown deep like the ri… I bathed in the Euphrates when da…
Love Is a ripe plum Growing on a purple tree. Taste it once And the spell of its enchantment
Because my mouth Is wide with laughter And my throat Is deep with song, You do not think