God in His infinite wisdom Did not make me very wise— So when my actions are stupid They hardly take God by surprise

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…

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.

My name is Johnson— Madam Alberta K. The Madam stands for business. I’m smart that way. I had a

How quiet It is in this sick room Where on the bed A silent woman lies between two lo… Life and Death,

Where is the Jim Crow section On this merry—go—round, Mister, cause I want to ride? Down South where I come from White and colored

I will take you heart. I will take your soul out of your… As though I were God. I will not be satisfied With the touch of your hand

I know I am The Negro Problem Being wined and dined, Answering the usual questions That come to white mind

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

In places like Selma, Alabama, Kids say, In places like Chicago and New York...

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—

You say I O.K.ed LONG DISTANCE? O.K.ed it when? My goodness, Central That was then!

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,