#Americans #Blacks
Because my mouth Is wide with laughter And my throat Is deep with song, You do not think
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
Listen! Dear dream of utter aliveness— Touching my body of utter death— Tell me, O quickly! dream of aliv… The flaming source of your bright…
I play it cool I dig all jive. That's the reason I stay alive. My motto
Clean the spittoons, boy. Detroit, Chicago, Atlantic City, Palm Beach.
When you turn the corner And you run into yourself Then you know that you have turned All the corners that are left
Only dumb guys fight. If I wasn’t dumb I wouldn’t be fightin’. I could make six dollars a day On the docks
The ivory gods, And the ebony gods, And the gods of diamond and jade, Sit silently on their temple shelv… While the people
I take my dreams and make of them… and a round fountain with a beauti… And a song with a broken heart and… Do you understand my dreams? Sometimes you say you do,
Now dreams Are not available To the dreamers, Nor songs To the singers.
My name is Johnson— Madam Alberta K. The Madam stands for business. I’m smart that way. I had a
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—
Here I sit With my shoes mismated. Lawdy—mercy! I’s frustrated!
Go home and write a page tonight. And let that page come out of you— Then, it will be true. I wonder if it’s that simple?
