#AmericanWriters
I went down to the river, I set down on the bank. I tried to think but couldn’t, So I jumped in and sank. I came up once and hollered!
I could take the Harlem night and wrap around you, Take the neon lights and make a cr… Take the Lenox Avenue busses, Taxis, subways,
It’s such a Bore Being always Poor.
I would liken you To a night without stars Were it not for your eyes. I would liken you To a sleep without dreams
I went to the Gypsy’s. Gypsy settin’ all alone. I said, Tell me, Gypsy, When will my gal be home? Gypsy said, Silver,
You and your whole race. Look down upon the town in which y… And be ashamed. Look down upon white folks And upon yourselves
Here I sit With my shoes mismated. Lawdy—mercy! I’s frustrated!
Tell all my mourners To mourn in red — Cause there ain’t no sense In my bein’ dead.
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.
Because my mouth Is wide with laughter And my throat Is deep with song, You do not think
You sicken me with lies, With truthful lies. And with your pious faces. And your wide, out—stretched, mock—welcome, Christian hands.
Clean the spittoons, boy. Detroit, Chicago, Atlantic City, Palm Beach.
I live on a park bench. You, Park Avenue. Hell of a distance Between us two. I beg a dime for dinner—
Being walkers with the dawn and mo… Walkers with the sun and morning, We are not afraid of night, Nor days of gloom, Nor darkness—
Gather quickly Out of darkness All the songs you know And throw them at the sun Before they melt