#AmericanWriters #BlackWriters
I look at the world From awakening eyes in a black fac… And this is what I see: This fenced—off narrow space Assigned to me.
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
In an envelope marked: PERSONAL God addressed me a letter. In an envelope marked: PERSONAL
Good morning, daddy! Ain’t you heard The boogie—woogie rumble Of a dream deferred? Listen closely:
How still, How strangely still The water is today, It is not good For water
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 rent man knocked. He said, Howdy—do? I said, What Can I do for you? He said, You know
I’ve known rivers: I’ve known rivers ancient as the w… My soul has grown deep like the ri… I bathed in the Euphrates when da… I built my hut near the Congo and…
I sat there singing her Songs in the dark. She said; 'I do not understand The words’.
I live on a park bench. You, Park Avenue. Hell of a distance Between us two. I beg a dime for dinner—
I would liken you To a night without stars Were it not for your eyes. I would liken you To a sleep without dreams
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…
I worked for a woman, She wasn’t mean— But she had a twelve—room House to clean. Had to get breakfast,
My old man’s a white old man And my old mother’s black. If ever I cursed my white old man I take my curses back. If ever I cursed my black old mot…
'Me an’ ma baby’s Got two mo’ ways, Two mo’ ways to do de Charleston!… Da, da, Da, da, da!
