#AmericanWriters #BlackWriters
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
Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams
I sat there singing her Songs in the dark. She said; 'I do not understand The words’.
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
Down in the bass That steady beat Walking walking walking Like marching feet. Down in the bass
In the Quarter of the Negroes Where the doors are doors of paper Dust of dingy atoms Blows a scratchy sound. Amorphous jack—o’—Lanterns caper
Now dreams Are not available To the dreamers, Nor songs To the singers.
Goin’ down the road, Lawd, Goin’ down the road. Down the road, Lawd, Way, way down the road. Got to find somebody
We passed their graves: The dead men there, Winners or losers, Did not care. In the dark
The census man, The day he came round, Wanted my name To put it down. I said, Johnson,
I’m all alone in this world, she s… Ain’t got nobody to share my bed, Ain’t got nobody to hold my hand— The truth of the matter’s I ain’t got no man.
I am God— Without one friend, Alone in my purity World without end. Below me young lovers
I work all day, Said Simple John, Myself a house to buy. I work all day, Said Simple John,
Big Boy came Carrying a mermaid On his shoulders And the mermaid Had her tail
You say I O.K.ed LONG DISTANCE? O.K.ed it when? My goodness, Central That was then!
