#AmericanWriters
O Mother Race! to thee I bring This pledge of faith unwavering, This tribute to thy glory. I know the pangs which thou didst… When Slavery crushed thee with it…
I AM no priest of crooks nor cree… For human wants and human needs Are more to me than prophets’ deed… And human tears and human cares Affect me more than human prayers.
DE dog go howlin’ 'long de road, De night come shiverin’ down; My back is tiahed of its load, I cain’t be fu’ f’om town. No mattah ef de way is long,
Key and bar, key and bar, Iron bolt and chain! And what will you do when the Kin… To enter his domain? Turn key and lift bar,
By the pool that I see in my drea… I have sat with you time and again… And listened beneath the dank leav… To the sibilant sound of the rain. And the pool, it is silvery bright…
OUTSIDE the rain upon the stree… The sky all grim of hue, Inside, the music—painful sweet, And yet I heard but you As is a thrilling violin,
Thou art my lute, by thee I sing,… My being is attuned to thee. Thou settest all my words a—wing, And meltest me to melody. Thou art my life, by thee I live,
De trees is bendin’ in de sto’m, De rain done hid de mountain’s fo’… I ‘s ’lone an’ in distress. But listen, dah 's a voice I hyea… A—sayin’ to me, loud an’ cleah,
LOVE used to carry a bow, you kn… But now he carries a taper; It is either a length of wax aglow… Or a twist of lighted paper. I pondered a little about the scam…
NOT o’er thy dust let there be sp… The gush of maudlin sentiment; Such drift as that is not for thee… Whose life and deeds and songs agr… Sublime in their simplicity.
STANDIN’ at de winder, Feelin’ kind o’ glum, Listenin’ to de raindrops Play de kettle drum, Lookin’ crost de medders
Darling, my darling, my heart is o… It flies to thee this morning like… Like happy birds in springtime my… The same sweet song thine ears hav… The sun is in my window, the shado…
Want to trade me, do you, mistah?… W’y you could n’t buy my Sukey fu… Dat ol’ mare o’ mine? Yes, huh coat ah long an’ shaggy,… Dat’s a ring—bone, yes, you right,…
The mist has left the greening pla… The dew—drops shine like fairy rai… The coquette rose awakes again Her lovely self adorning. The Wind is hiding in the trees,
LET me close the eyes of my soul That I may not see What stands between thee and me. Let me shut the ears of my heart That I may not hear