Stanza & Story

Category: Poetry

20th century, Black Poetry, Joseph S. Cotter, Jr., Poetry, United States of America

February 18, 2026

And What Shall You Say?

A brief, driving poem by Joseph S. Cotter Jr. that asks what you will be able to say about your life when history and heaven call you to account. Part of Stanza & Story’s Black poetry collection.
American Poetry, Black Poetry, Classic Poetry, Claude McKay, Poetry

January 10, 2026

After Winter

“We’ll turn our faces southward, love…” As winter sets in, Claude McKay envisions a return to the warmth of the tropics. Read this classic Harlem Renaissance poem about seeking shelter, quiet hills, and the promise of spring.
African-American, America, American, American Poetry, General, Life, Literature, Love, Other Stuff, poet, Poetry, Religion and Spirituality, Teyuna T. Darris, United States, women, women poets

September 1, 2024

Book Release: Stuff I Wrote from My Heart

by Teyuna Darris Exciting News: My First Poetry Chapbook is Now Available on Amazon! 🎉 Dear Good Poetry Community, I am so happy and grateful to share some exciting news with you, today I self-published my poetry chapbook, entitled, “Stuff I Wrote from My Heart— Part One: The Ingenue. This collection is now available on…
19th century, African-American, poet, Poetry, United States

February 4, 2023

“America”

“When black and white fought side by side, Upon the well-contested field,— Turned back the fierce opposing tide, And made the proud invader yield—” from “America” by James Monroe Whitfield
18th Century, African-American, America, American, American Poetry, Poetry, United States

February 3, 2023

“The Slave’s Complaint”

“Am I sadly cast aside, On misfortune’s rugged tide? Will the world my pains deride Forever?”
18th Century, African-American, Lucy Terry, poet, Poetry, United States, women, women poets

February 2, 2023

“Bars Fight”

August ’twas the twenty-fifth, Seventeen hundred forty-six; The Indians did in ambush lay, Some very valiant men to slay, The names of whom I’ll not leave out.
African-American, American, American Poetry, Black History, Poetry, Uncategorized

October 23, 2022

from “The Octoroon” by Alberry Alston Whitman (1851 – 1901)

“…What man is there who would not dare defend A life like this? Is doing so a sin?”
15th Century, Poetry, Uncategorized, women, women poets

October 22, 2022

“The Author to Her Book” by Anne Bradstreet (1612 – 1672

“…I washed thy face, but more defects I saw, And rubbing off a spot still made a flaw.”—Anne Bradstreet
19th century, 20th century, African-American, America, American, American Poetry, E.W. Harper, Ellen Watkins Harper, Frances E. W. Harper, General, poet, Poetry, Uncategorized, United States, Victorian Era, Victorian Period

August 15, 2022

Songs for the People

by Ellen Watkins Harper Let me make the songs for the people, Songs for the old and young;Songs to stir like a battle-cry Wherever they are sung.Not for the clashing of sabres, For carnage nor for strife;But songs to thrill the hearts of men With more abundant life.Let me make the songs for the weary,…
19th century, 20th century, African-American, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Poetry

August 14, 2022

In Summer

by Paul Laurence Dunbar Oh, summer has clothed the earthIn a cloak from the loom of the sun!And a mantle, too, of the skies’ soft blue,And a belt where the rivers run. And now for the kiss of the wind,And the touch of the air’s soft hands,With the rest from strife and the heat of…