Gods, by Langston Hughes

God the Father with the symbols of the fourth apostles (tetramorphos), know as The Trinity, by Pieter Coecke van Aelst

Langston Hughes

Gods

The ivory gods,

And the ebony gods,

And the gods of diamond and jade,

Sit silently on their temple shelves

While the people

Are afraid.

Yet the ivory gods,

And the ebony gods,

And the gods of diamond—jade,

Are only silly puppet gods

That the people themselves

Have made.

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Other works by Langston Hughes...

Acceptance

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

Wake

Tell all my mourners To mourn in red — Cause there ain’t no sense In my bein’ dead.

Prize Fighter

Only dumb guys fight. If I wasn’t dumb I wouldn’t be fightin’. I could make six dollars a day On the docks

To Certain

You sicken me with lies, With truthful lies. And with your pious faces. And your wide, out—stretched, mock—welcome, Christian hands.

Enemy

It would be nice In any case, To someday meet you Face to face Walking down

Silence

I catch the pattern Of your silence Before you speak I do not need To hear a word.

Children's Rhymes

By what sends the white kids I ain’t sent: I know I can’t be President.

Night Funeral in Harlem

Night funeral In Harlem: Where did they get Them two fine cars? Insurance man, he did not pay—

As I Grew Older

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—

Question [1]

When the old junk man Death Comes to gather up our bodies And toss them into the sack of obl… I wonder if he will find The corpse of a white multi—millio…

I Continue to Dream

I take my dreams and make of them… and a round fountain with a beauti… And a song with a broken heart and… Do you understand my dreams? Sometimes you say you do,

Snake

He glides so swiftly Back into the grass— Gives me the courtesy of road To let me pass, That I am half ashamed

Dinner Guest: Me

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

Final Curve

When you turn the corner And you run into yourself Then you know that you have turned All the corners that are left

Catch

Big Boy came Carrying a mermaid On his shoulders And the mermaid Had her tail

Langston Hughes

Gods

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