Love Is a ripe plum Growing on a purple tree. Taste it once And the spell of its enchantment Will never let you be. Love Is a bright star Glowing…
Posts published in “Poems”
I got to leave this town. It’s a lonesome place. Got to leave this town cause It’s a lonesome place. A po’, po’ boy can’t Find a friendly face. Goin’…
Let’s go see Old Abe Sitting in the marble and the moonlight, Sitting lonely in the marble and the moonlight, Quiet for ten thousand centuries, old Abe. Quiet for a…
This is for the kids who die, Black and white, For kids will die certainly. The old and rich will live on awhile, As always, Eating blood and gold, Letting…
That Justice is a blind goddess Is a thing to which we black are wise: Her bandage hides two festering sores That once perhaps were eyes.
I could take the Harlem night and wrap around you, Take the neon lights and make a crown, Take the Lenox Avenue busses, Taxis, subways, And for your love song…
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 Lifts high a dress of silken…
In time of silver rain The earth puts forth new life again, Green grasses grow And flowers lift their heads, And over all the plain The wonder spreads Of Life,…
I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong. Tomorrow,…
I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong. Tomorrow,…
I dream a world where man No other man will scorn, Where love will bless the earth And peace its paths adorn I dream a world where all Will know…
I take my dreams and make of them a bronze vase and a round fountain with a beautiful statue in its center. And a song with a broken heart and…
She, In the dark, Found light Brighter than many ever see. She, Within herself, Found loveliness, Through the soul’s own mastery. And now the world receives From her dower: The…
What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat?…
The ivory gods, And the ebony gods, And the gods of diamond and jade, Sit silently on their temple shelves While the people Are afraid. Yet the ivory gods, And…
I am God — Without one friend, Alone in my purity World without end. Below me young lovers Tread the sweet ground — But I am God — I cannot…
This is a song for the genius child. Sing it softly, for the song is wild. Sing it softly as ever you can – Lest the song get out of…
When a man starts out with nothing, When a man starts out with his hands Empty, but clean, When a man starts to build a world, He starts first with…
In places like Selma, Alabama, Kids say, In places like Chicago and New York… In places like Chicago and New York Kids say, In places like London and Paris… In…
The gold moth did not love him So, gorgeous, she flew away. But the gray moth circled the flame Until the break of day. And then, with wings like a…
When you turn the corner And you run into yourself Then you know that you have turned All the corners that are left
At the feet o’ Jesus, Sorrow like a sea. Lordy, let yo’ mercy Come driftin’ down on me. At the feet o’ Jesus At yo’ feet I stand. O, ma…
It would be nice In any case, To someday meet you Face to face Walking down The road to hell… As I come up Feeling swell.
Down in the bass That steady beat Walking walking walking Like marching feet. Down in the bass They easy roll, Rolling like I like it In my soul. Riffs, smears,…
Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen…
To fling my arms wide In some place of the sun, To whirl and to dance Till the white day is done. Then rest at cool evening Beneath a tall…
Good morning, daddy! Ain’t you heard The boogie-woogie rumble Of a dream deferred? Listen closely: You’ll hear their feet Beating out and beating out a – You think It’s a…
I know I am The Negro Problem Being wined and dined, Answering the usual questions That come to white mind Which seeks demurely To Probe in polite way The why…
Democracy will not come Today, this year Nor ever Through compromise and fear. I have as much right As the other fellow has To stand On my two feet And…
Listen! Dear dream of utter aliveness- Touching my body of utter death- Tell me, O quickly! dream of aliveness, The flaming source of your bright breath. Tell me, O dream…
When I get to be a composer I’m gonna write me some music about Daybreak in Alabama And I’m gonna put the purtiest songs in it Rising out of the…
In the Quarter of the Negroes Where the doors are doors of paper Dust of dingy atoms Blows a scratchy sound. Amorphous jack-o’-Lanterns caper And the wind won’t wait for…
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…
By what sends The white kids I ain’t sent: I know I can’t Be President. What don’t bug Them white kids Sure bugs me: We know everybody Ain’t free. Lies…
Big Boy came Carrying a mermaid On his shoulders And the mermaid Had her tail Curved Beneath his arm. Being a fisher boy, He’d found a fish To carry- Half…
Clean the spittoons, boy. Detroit, Chicago, Atlantic City, Palm Beach. Clean the spittoons. The steam in hotel kitchens, And the smoke in hotel lobbies, And the slime in hotel spittoons:…
Gather quickly Out of darkness All the songs you know And throw them at the sun Before they melt Like snow
Goin’ down the road, Lawd, Goin’ down the road. Down the road, Lawd, Way,way down the road. Got to find somebody To help me carry this load. Road’s in front…
Here I sit With my shoes mismated. Lawdy-mercy! I’s frustrated!
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- My dream. And then the…
I would liken you To a night without stars Were it not for your eyes. I would liken you To a sleep without dreams Were it not for your songs.
Let the rain kiss you Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops Let the rain sing you a lullaby The rain makes still pools on the…
Fine living . . . a la carte? Come to the Waldorf-Astoria! LISTEN HUNGRY ONES! Look! See what Vanity Fair says about the new Waldorf-Astoria: “All the luxuries of private…
Fine living . . . a la carte? Come to the Waldorf-Astoria! LISTEN HUNGRY ONES! Look! See what Vanity Fair says about the new Waldorf-Astoria: “All the luxuries of private…
God in His infinite wisdom Did not make me very wise- So when my actions are stupid They hardly take God by surprise