#AmericanWriters 1931 October Originally Poetry appeared in issue magazine of the
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…
Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams
I play it cool I dig all jive. That's the reason I stay alive. My motto
Because my mouth Is wide with laughter And my throat Is deep with song, You do not think
When the shoe strings break On both your shoes And you’re in a hurry— That’s the blues. When you go to buy a candy bar
Let America be America again. Let it be the dream it used to be. Let it be the pioneer on the plain Seeking a home where he himself is… (America never was America to me.…
Well, son, I’ll tell you: Life for me ain’t been no crystal… It’s had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up,
It would be nice In any case, To someday meet you Face to face Walking down
Love Is a ripe plum Growing on a purple tree. Taste it once And the spell of its enchantment
I sat there singing her Songs in the dark. She said; 'I do not understand The words’.
I work all day, Said Simple John, Myself a house to buy. I work all day, Said Simple John,
The rent man knocked. He said, Howdy—do? I said, What Can I do for you? He said, You know
been scared and battered. My hopes the wind done scattered. Snow has friz me, Sun has baked me, Looks like between 'em they done
Landlord, landlord, My roof has sprung a leak. Don’t you 'member I told you abou… Way last week? Landlord, landlord,
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—