Tag: art
-

“The Glory of the Day Was In Her Face” by James Weldon Johnson
The glory of the day was in her face, The beauty of the night was in her eyes. And over all her loveliness, the grace Of Morning blushing in the early skies. And in her voice, the calling of the dove; Like music of a sweet, melodious part. And in her smile, the breaking light…
-

“Trees” by Alfred Joyce Kilner
I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree. A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast; A tree that looks at God all day, And lifts her leafy arms to pray; A tree that may in summer wear A nest of robins in her hair;…
-

“A Mathematical Problem in Verse” by Benjamin Banneker
A COOPER and Vintner sat down for a talk, Both being so groggy, that neither could walk, Says Cooper to Vintner, “I’m the first of my trade, There’s no kind of vessel, but what I have made, And of any shpe, Sir, -just what you will,- And of any size, Sir, -from a ton to…
-

“Georgia Dusk” by Jean Toomer (1894 – 1967)
The sky, lazily disdaining to pursue The setting sun, too indolent to hold A lengthened tournament for flashing gold, Passively darkens for night’s barbecue, A feast of moon and men and barking hounds, An orgy for some genius of the South With blood-hot eyes and cane-lipped scented mouth, Surprised in making folk-songs from soul sounds.…
-

“A Golden Day” by Paul Laurence Dunbar
I Found you and I lost you, All on a gleaming day. The day was filled with sunshine, And the land was full of May. A golden bird was singing Its melody divine, I found you and I loved you, And all the world was mine. I found you and I lost you, All on…
-

“The Birth of John Henry” by Melvin B. Tolson (1898 – 1966)
The night John Henry is born an ax of lightning splits the sky, and a hammer of thunder pounds the earth, and the eagles and panthers cry! John Henry—he says to his Ma and Pa: “Get a gallon of barleycorn. I want to start right, like a he-man child, the night that I am born!”…
-
“On Being Brought from Africa to America” by Phillis Wheately
‘Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land, Taught my benighted soul to understand That there’s a God, that there’s a Saviour too: Once I redemption neither sought nor knew. 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.
