#AmericanWriters
By what sends the white kids I ain’t sent: I know I can’t be President.
I would liken you To a night without stars Were it not for your eyes. I would liken you To a sleep without dreams
Big Boy came Carrying a mermaid On his shoulders And the mermaid Had her tail
I sat there singing her Songs in the dark. She said; 'I do not understand The words’.
Here I sit With my shoes mismated. Lawdy—mercy! I’s frustrated!
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…
The census man, The day he came round, Wanted my name To put it down. I said, Johnson,
Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams
Down in the bass That steady beat Walking walking walking Like marching feet. Down in the bass
My old mule, He’s gota grin on his face. He’s been a mule so long He’s forgotten about his race. I’m like that old mule —
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,
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…
Love Is a ripe plum Growing on a purple tree. Taste it once And the spell of its enchantment
God in His infinite wisdom Did not make me very wise— So when my actions are stupid They hardly take God by surprise
'Me an’ ma baby’s Got two mo’ ways, Two mo’ ways to do de Charleston!… Da, da, Da, da, da!