In an envelope marked:
PERSONAL
God addressed me a letter.
In an envelope marked:
PERSONAL

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

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams

Gather quickly
Out of darkness
All the songs you know
And throw them at the sun
Before they melt

I would liken you
To a night without stars
Were it not for your eyes.
I would liken you
To a sleep without dreams

Droning a drowsy syncopated tune,
Rocking back and forth to a mellow
I heard a Negro play.
Down on Lenox Avenue the other ni
By the pale dull pallor of an old

Bring me all of your dreams,
You dreamer,
Bring me all your
Heart melodies
That I may wrap them

I worked for a woman,
She wasn’t mean—
But she had a twelve—room
House to clean.
Had to get breakfast,

Landlord, landlord,
My roof has sprung a leak.
Don’t you 'member I told you abou
Way last week?
Landlord, landlord,

Because my mouth
Is wide with laughter
And my throat
Is deep with song,
You do not think