Category: American Poetry
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“The Harlem Dancer” by Claude McKay (1889 – 1948)
The wine-flushed, bold-eyed boys, and even the girls, Devoured her shape with eager, passionate gaze; But looking at her falsely-smiling face, I knew her self was not in that strange place.
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“The Red Wheelbarrow” by William Carlos Williams (1883 – 1963)
“The Red Wheelbarrow” by William Carlos Williams, Read by Teyuna Trynea Darris so much depends upon a red wheel barrow glazed with rain water beside the white chickens.
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“I was born upon they bank, river” by Henry David Thoreau (1817 – 1862)
“I was born upon thy bank, river” by Henry David Thoreau I was born upon thy bank, river, My blood flows in thy stream, And thou meanderest forever At the bottom of my dream.
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“What Kind of Times Are These” by ADRIENNE RICH (1929 – 2012)
“I won’t tell you where the place is, the dark mesh of the woods meeting the unmarked strip of light— ghost-ridden crossroads, leafmold paradise: I know already who wants to buy it, sell it, make it disappear.”
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“Instruction” by HAZEL HALL (1886 – 1924)
Instruction By HAZEL HALL My hands that guide a needle In their turn are led Relentlessly and deftly As a needle leads a thread. Other hands are teaching My needle: when I sew I feel the cool, thin fingers Of hands I do not know. They urge my needle onward. They smooth my seams. until…
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“White Branches” by HAZEL HALL (1886 – 1924)
White Branches By HAZEL HALL I had forgotten the gesture of branches Suddenly white, And I had forgotten the fragrance of blossoms Filling a room at night. In remembering the curve of branches Who beckoned me in vain, Remembering dark rooms of coolness Where fragrance was like pain, I have forgotten all else; there is…
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“blessing the boats” by LUCILLE CLIFTON (1936 – 2010)
“…the wind then turn from it certain that it will love your back may you open your eyes to water water waving forever…”
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“won’t you celebrate with me” by LUCILLE CLIFTON (1936 – 2010)
won’t you celebrate with me BY LUCILLE CLIFTON won’t you celebrate with me what i have shaped into a kind of life? i had no model. born in babylon both nonwhite and woman what did i see to be except myself? i made it up here on this bridge between starshine and clay, my one…
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“It Was a Dream” by Lucille Clifton (1936 – 2010)
“…whirling in a gyre of rage at what my days had come to. what, i pleaded with her, could i do, oh what could i have done?”
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“Life” by Edith Wharton (1862 – 1937)
“nd one, to wake the mirth in Lesbia’s gaze, Carves it apace in toys fantastical. But least is he who, with enchanted eyes Filled with high visions of fair shapes to be, Muses which god he shall immortalize…”
Stanza & Story 