#AmericanWriters
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 —
The ivory gods, And the ebony gods, And the gods of diamond and jade, Sit silently on their temple shelv… While the people
I would liken you To a night without stars Were it not for your eyes. I would liken you To a sleep without dreams
It’s such a Bore Being always Poor.
We passed their graves: The dead men there, Winners or losers, Did not care. In the dark
And that is what poetry may do, wrap up your dreams, protect and preserve and hold them until maybe they come true. Columbus dreamed of finding a new world, he found it. Edison dreamed ...
Tell all my mourners To mourn in red — Cause there ain’t no sense In my bein’ dead.
Remember The days of bondage— And remembering— Do not stand still. Go to the highest hill
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,
You and your whole race. Look down upon the town in which y… And be ashamed. Look down upon white folks And upon yourselves
The census man, The day he came round, Wanted my name To put it down. I said, Johnson,
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—
Because my mouth Is wide with laughter And my throat Is deep with song, You do not think
I will take you heart. I will take your soul out of your… As though I were God. I will not be satisfied With the touch of your hand
I’ve known rivers: I’ve known rivers ancient as the w… flow of human blood in human veins My soul has grown deep like the ri… I bathed in the Euphrates when da…