#AmericanWriters
The rent man knocked. He said, Howdy—do? I said, What Can I do for you? He said, You know
Landlord, landlord, My roof has sprung a leak. Don’t you 'member I told you abou… Way last week? Landlord, landlord,
I woke up this mornin’ ’Bout half-past three. All the womens in town Was gathered round me. Sweet gals was a-moanin’,
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!
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—
My name is Johnson— Madam Alberta K. The Madam stands for business. I’m smart that way. I had a
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.
2 and 2 are 4. 4 and 4 are 8. But what would happen If the last 4 was late? And how would it be
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.
I catch the pattern Of your silence Before you speak I do not need To hear a word.
I’ve known rivers: I’ve known rivers ancient as the w… My soul has grown deep like the ri… I bathed in the Euphrates when da… I built my hut near the Congo and…
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,
God in His infinite wisdom Did not make me very wise— So when my actions are stupid They hardly take God by surprise
My old man’s a white old man And my old mother’s black. If ever I cursed my white old man I take my curses back. If ever I cursed my black old mot…
Now dreams Are not available To the dreamers, Nor songs To the singers.