#AmericanWriters
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.
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…
Gather quickly Out of darkness All the songs you know And throw them at the sun Before they melt
You and your whole race. Look down upon the town in which y… And be ashamed. Look down upon white folks And upon yourselves
I worked for a woman, She wasn’t mean— But she had a twelve—room House to clean. Had to get breakfast,
'Me an’ ma baby’s Got two mo’ ways, Two mo’ ways to do de Charleston!… Da, da, Da, da, da!
Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams
The ivory gods, And the ebony gods, And the gods of diamond and jade, Sit silently on their temple shelv… While the people
He glides so swiftly Back into the grass— Gives me the courtesy of road To let me pass, That I am half ashamed
You say I O.K.ed LONG DISTANCE? O.K.ed it when? My goodness, Central That was then!
I would liken you To a night without stars Were it not for your eyes. I would liken you To a sleep without dreams
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,
I sat there singing her Songs in the dark. She said; 'I do not understand The words’.
That Justice is a blind goddess Is a thing to which we black are w… Her bandage hides two festering so… That once perhaps were eyes.
Fine living . . . a la carte? Come to the Waldorf—Astoria! LISTEN HUNGRY ONES! Look! See what Vanity Fair says… new Waldorf—Astoria: