Stanza & Story

Category: Poetry

18th Century, African-American, Literature, Phillis Wheatley, Phyllis Wheatley, poet, Poetry, Uncategorized, United States, women, women poets

February 14, 2022

“To the Right Honourable William, Earl of Dartmouth”

“May fiery coursers sweep th’ ethereal plain, And bear thee upwards to that blest abode, Where, like the prophet, thou shalt find thy God.”
African-American, America, American, American Poetry, Black History, General, Harlem Renaissance, Jean Toomer, Poetry, United States

February 7, 2022

“Beehive”

“Silver bees intently buzzing, Silver honey dripping from the swarm of bees Earth is a waxen cell of the world comb,”— from “Beehive” by Jean Toomer
20th century, Black History, Claude McKay, modern poetry, Poetry, United States

February 5, 2022

“If We Must Die”

“Oh, Kinsmen! We must meet the common foe; Though far outnumbered, let us still be brave, And for their thousand blows deal one death-blow!…”— from “If We Must Die” by Claude McKay
20th century, African-American, America, American, American Poetry, Black History, Melvin B. Tolson, poet, Poetry, United States

February 4, 2022

A Song for Myself

“The corn Will fat A hog Or rat:” — from “A Song for Myself” by Melvin B. Tolson
18th Century, African-American, American, American Poetry, Black History, Poetry, Uncategorized

February 3, 2022

From “An Anniversary Poem, Entitled, ‘The Progress of Liberty” by James Madison Bell (1826 – 1902)

“Though slavery’s dead, yet there remains A work for those from whom the chains Today are falling one by one; Nor should they deem their labor done,”— from “An Anniversary Poem, Entitled, ‘The Progress of Liberty” by James Madison Bell
American, American Poetry, Black History, General, History, Phillis Wheatley, poet, Poetry, Religion and Spirituality, Uncategorized, United States, women, women poets

February 2, 2022

On Being Brought from Africa to America

“Some view our sable race with scornful eye, “Their colour is a diabolic die.” Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain, May be refin’d, and join th’ angelic train.” — from “On being brought from AFRICA to AMERICA.” by Phillis Wheatley
America, American, Black History, Celebration, Faith, James Weldon Johnson, poet, Poetry, Religion and Spirituality, Uncategorized, United States

January 31, 2022

“Lift Every Voice and Sing”

“God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who has brought us thus far on the way; Thou who has by Thy might Led us into the light,” — excerpt from “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by James Weldon Johnson
American, American Poetry, Martin Luther King, Jr., poet, Poetry, United States

January 17, 2022

The Streetsweeper

“Be a bush if you can’t be a tree. If you can’t be a highway, just be a trail. If you can’t be a sun, be a star. For it isn’t by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, JR.
America, American, American Poetry, Marianne Moore, poet, Poetry, Uncategorized, United States, women, women poets

January 1, 2022

“A Jelly Fish”

The blue Surrounding it Grows cloudy, and It floats away From you.
19th century, 20th century, Khalil Gibran, MIddle East, modern poetry, poet, Poetry, Uncategorized

December 3, 2021

“And When My Sorrow was Born” by Khalil Gibran (1883 – 1931)

And every day for seven moons I proclaimed my Joy from the house-top—and yet no one heeded me. And my Joy and I were alone, unsought and unvisited.