#AmericanWriters
I would liken you To a night without stars Were it not for your eyes. I would liken you To a sleep without dreams
Good morning, daddy! Ain’t you heard The boogie—woogie rumble Of a dream deferred? Listen closely:
Here I sit With my shoes mismated. Lawdy—mercy! I’s frustrated!
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
Tell all my mourners To mourn in red — Cause there ain’t no sense In my bein’ dead.
Big Boy came Carrying a mermaid On his shoulders And the mermaid Had her tail
Landlord, landlord, My roof has sprung a leak. Don’t you 'member I told you abou… Way last week? Landlord, landlord,
Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams
I am God— Without one friend, Alone in my purity World without end. Below me young lovers
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…
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 live on a park bench. You, Park Avenue. Hell of a distance Between us two. I beg a dime for dinner—
I worked for a woman, She wasn’t mean— But she had a twelve—room House to clean. Had to get breakfast,
In places like Selma, Alabama, Kids say, In places like Chicago and New York...
I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh,