Classic and Contemporary Poetry
LYNCHERS, by MADISON JULIUS CAWEIN Poet's Biography First Line: At the moon's down-going, let it be Last Line: On the quarry hill with its one gnarled tree. Subject(s): Lynching; Racism; Racial Prejudice; Bigotry | ||||||||
AT the moon's down-going, let it be On the quarry hill with its one gnarled tree.; The red-rock road of the underbush, Where the woman came through the summer hush. The sumac high and the elder thick, Where we found the stone and the ragged stick The trampled road of the thicket, full Of footprints down to the quarry pool. The rocks that ooze with the hue of lead, Where we found her lying stark and dead. The scraggy wood; the Negro hut, With its doors and windows locked and shut. A secret signal; a foot's rough tramp; A knock at the door; a lifted lamp. An oath; a scuffle; a ring of masks; A voice that answers a voice that asks. A group of shadows; the moon's red fleck; A running noose and a man's bared neck. A word, a curse, and a shape that swings; The lonely night and a bat's black wings.; At the moon's down-going, let it be On the quarry hill with its one gnarled tree. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BLACK WOMAN by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON FOREDOOM by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON I MUST BECOME A MENACE TO MY ENEMIES by JUNE JORDAN A SONG FOR SOWETO by JUNE JORDAN ON THE LOSS OF ENERGY (AND OTHER THINGS) by JUNE JORDAN POEM ABOUT POLICE VIOLENCE by JUNE JORDAN DRAFT OF A RAP FOR WEN HO LEE by JUNE JORDAN THE NIGHT THAT LORCA COMES by BOB KAUFMAN THE MYSTIC RIVER by GALWAY KINNELL KU KLUX by MADISON JULIUS CAWEIN |
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