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Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Searching... Author: KNIGHT, ETHERIDGE Matches Found: 154 Knight, Etheridge Poet's Biography 154 poems available by this author A POEM FOR BLACK RELOCATION CENTERS Poem Text First Line: Flukum couldn't stand the strain. Flukum Last Line: The enemy far away on the other side of the sea Subject(s): African Americans – Military; Negroes; American Blacks A POEM FOR MYSELF Poem Text First Line: I was born in mississippi Subject(s): African Americans; Negroes; American Blacks A WASP WOMAN VISITS A BLACK JUNKIE IN PRISON Poem Text First Line: After explanations and regulations, he Subject(s): Alcoholism & Alcoholics; Prisons & Prisoners; Social Classes; Drunkards; Alcohol Abuse; Convicts; Caste AND TELL ME POET, CAN LOVE EXIST IN SLAVERY First Line: Come then poet, and sing ANOTHER POEM FOR ME (AFTER RECOVERING FROM AN O.D.) Poem Text First Line: What now / what now dumb nigger damn near dead Subject(s): Alcoholism & Alcoholics; Drunkards; Alcohol Abuse ANOTHER POEM FOR ME (AFTER RECOVERING FROM AN O.D.) First Line: What now %what now dumb nigger damn near dead Last Line: Now that death has fled these quiet corridors Subject(s): Alcoholics And Alcoholism APOLOGY FOR APOSTASY? First Line: Soft songs, like birds, die in poison air AS YOU LEAVE ME Poem Text First Line: Shiny record albums scattered over Subject(s): Prostitution; Harlots; Whores; Brothels AS YOU LEAVE ME First Line: Shiny record albums scattered over Subject(s): Prostitution AT A VA HOSPITAL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE UNITED STATES First Line: Stars from five wars, scars BELLY SONG First Line: And I and I %must admit BELLY SONG (FOR THE DAYTOP FAMILY) First Line: And I - and I -/must admit %that the sea in you Last Line: That nearly swallowed you - %and me too Variant Title(s): Belly Son BIRTHDAY POEM First Line: The sun rose today, and BLACK POET LEAPS TO HIS DEATH First Line: Was it a blast to the balls dear brother BONES OF MY FATHER First Line: There are no dry bones Subject(s): Men BOONE COUNTY First Line: A blue pick %up truck BOSTON 5:00 A.M. - 10/74 First Line: Awake! For mornings CAR ACCIDENT Last Line: Broke my bones. On the ward %I drove my ghost away CELL SONG First Line: Night music slanted Last Line: Can there anything %good come out of %prison CIRCLING THE DAUGHTER Poem Text First Line: You came / to be / in the month of malcolm Last Line: You break my eyes with your beauty: / ooo-uu-oo-baby-I love you Subject(s): Fathers & Daughters CIRCLING THE DAUGHTER First Line: You came %to be %in the month of malcolm Last Line: You break my eyes with your beauty: %ooouu-oo-baby-I-love-you Subject(s): Fathers And Daughters CLAY COUNTY First Line: Thunder in the hills CON/TIN/U/WAY/SHUN BLUES First Line: Well, the las' time I saw my mother Last Line: And most troubles will be gone CONVERSATION WITH MYSELF First Line: What am I %doing here Last Line: Where %I could talk bad COP-OUT SESSION First Line: I done shot dope, been to jail, swilled CROWN HILL CEMETERY, INDIANAPOLIS First Line: A black and white dog DARK PROPHECY: I SING OF SHINE Poem Text Recitation First Line: And, yeah, brothers / while white/america sings about the unsink- Subject(s): African Americans; Disasters; Ships & Shipping; Shipwrecks; Titanic (ship); Negroes; American Blacks DARK PROPHECY: I SING OF SHINE First Line: And, yeah, brothers %while white/america sings about the unsink- Last Line: And when the news hit shore that the titanic had sunk %shinewas up in harlem damn near drunk Subject(s): African Americans; Disasters; Ships And Shipping; Shipwrecks; Titanic (ship) DEALING SCRAPS First Line: I must have back his breath Last Line: Except this desperate love EAT HELEN B HAPPY EVOLUTIONARY POEM NO. 1 First Line: I ain't got nobody EVOLUTIONARY POEM NO. 2 First Line: We ain't got nobody FABLE First Line: Once upon a today and yesterday and nevermore there were 7 men FEELING FUCKED UP Poem Text Recitation First Line: Lord she's gone done left me done packed / up and split Subject(s): Alcoholism & Alcoholics; Men; Drunkards; Alcohol Abuse FEELING FUCKED UP First Line: Lord she's gone done left me done packed %up and split Last Line: The whole muthafucking thing %all I wnat now is my woman back %so my soul can sing Subject(s): Alcoholics And Alcoholism; Men FOR A BROOKLINE LADY I LOVE First Line: So %zoom %your special spot FOR BLACK POETS WHO THINK OF SUICIDE Poem Text Recitation First Line: Black poets should live -- not leap Subject(s): Poetry & Poets; Suicide FOR BLACK POETS WHO THINK OF SUICIDE First Line: Black poets should live -- not leap Last Line: And be buried in the dust of marching feet Subject(s): Poetry And Poets; Suicide FOR DAN BERRIGAN First Line: I don't know about you, whiteman all dressed in black FOR ERIC DOLPHY First Line: On flute Last Line: Got a whuppin Subject(s): Dolphy, Eric (1928-1964); Jazz; Music And Musicians FOR FRECKLED-FACED GERALD Poem Text Recitation First Line: Now you take ol rufus. He beat drums Subject(s): African Americans; Prisons & Prisoners; Youth; Negroes; American Blacks; Convicts FOR FRECKLED-FACED GERALD First Line: Now you take ol rufus. He beat drums Last Line: And at night light upon his back Subject(s): African Americans; Prisons And Prisoners; Youth FOR LANGSTON HUGHES First Line: Gone gone FOR MALCOLM, A YEAR AFTER Poem Text First Line: Compose for red a proper verse Last Line: But not the anger of that day Subject(s): African Americans; Malcolm X (malcolm Little) (1925-1965); Negroes; American Blacks FOR MALCOLM, A YEAR AFTER First Line: Compose for red a proper verse Last Line: But not the anger of that day Subject(s): African Americans; Malcolm X (malcolm Little) (1925-1965) FOR MARY ELLEN MCANALLY First Line: Who is a white %woman %and GENESIS First Line: The skin GENESIS: 11 First Line: The word, was, is, will, be GREEN GRASS AND YELLOW BALLOONS First Line: The garden we walked in HAIKU First Line: A slender finger of light HAIKU First Line: Two hours I've walked HAIKU First Line: Making jazz swing in Last Line: No square poet's job HAIKU First Line: In the august grass Last Line: The cracked teacup screams HAIKU First Line: Under moon shadows Last Line: Slices star bright ice HAIKU First Line: The falling snow leaves Last Line: Match the steel stillness HAIKU First Line: A bare pecan tree Last Line: A moonlit snow slope HAIKU First Line: To write a blues song Last Line: And pluck gems from graves HAIKU First Line: Morning sun slants cell Last Line: On jailhouse floor HAIKU First Line: The piano man Last Line: His songs drop like plum HAIKU First Line: Eastern guard tower Last Line: Like lizards on rocks HAIKU FOR THE HOMELESS First Line: O sister of mine! Last Line: Groans: shame! Shame! Shame! My sister's %eyes moan: blame! Blame! Blame! HAIKU: 1 Poem Text First Line: Eastern guard tower Subject(s): Prisons & Prisoners; Convicts HAIKU: 2 Poem Text First Line: The piano man Subject(s): Music & Musicians HAIKU: 3 Poem Text First Line: Morning sun slants cell. Subject(s): Prisons & Prisoners; Convicts HAIKU: 4 Poem Text First Line: To write a blues song Subject(s): Song Writing HAIKU: 5 Poem Text First Line: A bare pecan tree Subject(s): Pecan Trees HAIKU: 6 Poem Text First Line: The falling snow flakes Subject(s): Snow; Pain; Suffering; Misery HAIKU: 7 Poem Text First Line: Under moon shadows HAIKU: 8 Poem Text First Line: In the august grass HAIKU: 9 Poem Text First Line: Making jazz swing in Subject(s): Poetry & Poets; Jazz HARD ROCK RETURNS TO PRISON FROM THE HOSPITAL FOR THE CRIMINAL INSANE Poem Text Recitation First Line: Hard rock / was / 'known not to take no shit Subject(s): African Americans; Insanity; Korean War, 1950-1953; Prisons & Prisoners; Surgery; Negroes; American Blacks; Madness; Mental Illness; Convicts HARD ROCK RETURNS TO PRISON FROM THE HOSPITAL FOR THE CRIMINAL INSANE First Line: Hard rock / was / 'known not to take no shit Last Line: Had cut deep bloody grooves %across our backs Subject(s): African Americans; Insanity; Korean War, 1950-1953; Prisons And Prisoners; Surgery HARLEM First Line: Streetwalking woman HE PAID ME SEVEN Recitation by Author HE SEES THROUGH STONE Recitation by Author HE SEES THROUGH STONE Poem Text HE SEES THROUGH STONE Last Line: He has the secret eyes %he sees through stone Subject(s): Prisons And Prisoners I AM A TREE, MY LOVERS FLY TO AND FROM ME First Line: She appeared, soaring out the sunset Last Line: Still afraid, and stones began to grow in our bed I AND YOUR EYES First Line: And I and your eyes I WATCH FROM AFAR Last Line: The fisher folk on fall creek. %it's spring, and I'm sick IDEA OF ANCESTRY First Line: Taped to the wall of my cell are 47 pictures: 47 black Last Line: They are all of me, I am me, they are thee, and I have no children to float in the space between Subject(s): African Americans; Ancestors And Ancestry; Fathers; Korean War, 1950-1953; Men; Prayer; Prisons And Prisoners ILU, THE TALKING DRUM First Line: The deadness was threatening us - 15 nigerians and 1 mississippi INDIANA AVENUE, 1949 First Line: Neons flash red and green INDIANAPOLIS WAR MEMORIAL First Line: Young boys play in pairs INDIANAPOLIS WINTER, 1973 First Line: Icicles crack and drop IT WAS A FUNKY DEAL Poem Text Last Line: It was a funky deal Subject(s): African Americans; Malcolm X (malcolm Little) (1925-1965); Negroes; American Blacks IT WAS A FUNKY DEAL Last Line: Like me you and bird. (and that %lil leroi cat.) %it was a funky deal IT WAS A FUNKY DEAL Subject(s): African Americans; Malcolm X (malcolm Little) (1925-1965) JAZZ DRUMMER First Line: Max roach / has fire and steel in his hands Subject(s): Jazz; Music & Musicians; Roach, Max (b. 1924) JAZZ DRUMMER First Line: Max roach %has fire and steel in his hands Last Line: Calls us all Subject(s): Jazz; Music And Musicians; Roach, Max (b. 1924) JUNKY'S SONG First Line: The pain, so real, so intense Last Line: Father time, then blackest of blackness, standing still KEEPING OF A PROMISE First Line: There %is %no moon tonight LAST WORDS BY SLICK First Line: Now, when I %die, dont you bury me MEMO #2 First Line: The blood stepped MEMO #32 First Line: Joe williams is MEMO #43 First Line: You get the blues in twos MEMO #5 First Line: I do crazy things when MEMO #9 First Line: Doze o blk %capitalists MIZZU First Line: Rotc march MY LIFE, THE QUALITY OF WHICH Poem Text Last Line: But you hav to feel for it Subject(s): Life; Desperation MY LIFE, THE QUALITY OF WHICH MY UNCLE IS MY HONOR AND A GUEST IN MY HOUSE First Line: In the center of the bloodvein NO MOON FLOODS THE MEMORY OF THAT NIGHT O PRAYING MANTIS Last Line: Facing me, kneeling, why? %I hold no dominion ON SEEING THE BLACK MALE AS #1 SEX OBJECT IN AMERICA First Line: There %are %black men in the south ON THE BIRTH OF A BLACK BABY BOY First Line: In memphis - in tennessee ON THE PROJECTS PLAYGROUND First Line: Say, mister ON THE YARD Poem Text First Line: A slim / young fascist Last Line: Did I / completely Subject(s): Men ON THE YARD First Line: A slim %young fascist Last Line: Not %did I %completely Subject(s): Men ON WATCHING POLITICIANS PERFORM Poem Text First Line: Hypocrites shed tears Last Line: With the ante raised Subject(s): Politics & Government; Funerals; King, Martin Luther, Jr. (1929-1968) ON WATCHING POLITICIANS PERFORM First Line: Hypocrites shed tears Subject(s): Politics ONCE ON A NIGHT IN THE DELTA: A REPORT FROM HELL First Line: Gravel rattles against the fenders of the van OUTSIDE ST. LOUIS First Line: Route 66 curves PENAL FARM First Line: The wire fence is tall POEM FOR A CERTAIN LADY ON HER 33RD BIRTHDAY First Line: Who are we, s.S. POEM FOR BLACK RELOCATION CENTERS First Line: Flukum couldn't stand the strain. Flukum Last Line: The enemy far away on the other side of the sea Subject(s): African Americans POEM FOR MYSELF First Line: I was born in mississippi Last Line: Gonna be free in mississippi %or dead in the mississippi mud Subject(s): African Americans POEM FOR THE LIBERATION OF SOUTHERN AFRICA First Line: Have danced in ecstasy POEM OF ATTRITION First Line: I do not know if the color of the day Last Line: Across the wide green water POEM ON THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS. First Line: Israel a la begin, begins: 'we POEM TO GALWAY KINNELL First Line: Saturday, april 26, 1973 PORTRAIT OF MALCOLM X First Line: He has the sign Last Line: His forehead is red %and sacrosanct and %smooth as time and %love for you PORTRAIT OF MARY First Line: My wife sleeps PRISON GRAVEYARD First Line: The dying sun %slides over the tiger teeth Subject(s): Prisons And Prisoners REHABILITATION & TREATMENT IN THE PRISONS OF AMERICA First Line: The convict strolled into the prison administration building to Last Line: Door--and fell nine stories ot the street REPORT TO THE MOTHER First Line: Well, things %be %pretty bad now, mother RIVERSIDE PARK First Line: A brown oak tree leans SONG OF THE HOMELESS First Line: I am not b'rer boll weaver Last Line: I am a homeless person in this %land of the free, a homeless slave %in this land of the brave STRETCHING OF THE BELLY First Line: Marks %of the mother are SUN CAME First Line: The sun came, miss brooks Last Line: And we goofed the whole thing. %I think. %(though ain't no vision visited my cell) Subject(s): Brooks, Gwendolyn (1917-2000) SUN CAME Subject(s): African Americans; Malcolm X (malcolm Little) (1925-1965) TALKING IN THE WOODS WITH KARL AMORELLI First Line: The old toyota, green as a frog, coughs and clanks TELEVISION SPEAKS Poem Text Last Line: Buy “burgers” and sticky sweets Subject(s): Television; News TELEVISION SPEAKS Last Line: Buy 'burgers' and sticky sweets! THE BONES OF MY FATHER Poem Text First Line: There are no dry bones Subject(s): Men THE IDEA OF ANCESTRY Poem Text Recitation First Line: Taped to the wall of my cell are 47 pictures: 47 black Subject(s): African Americans; Ancestors & Ancestry; Fathers; Korean War, 1950-1953; Men; Prayer; Prisons & Prisoners; Negroes; American Blacks; Heritage; Heredity; Convicts THE SUN CAME Poem Text First Line: The sun came, miss brooks Subject(s): Brooks, Gwendolyn (1917-2000) THE VIOLENT SPACE Poem Text First Line: Exchange in greed the ungraceful signs. Thrust Last Line: But the air cannot stand my singing long Subject(s): Prostitution; Harlots; Whores; Brothels TO DINAH WASHINGTON First Line: I have heard your voice floating, royal and real Last Line: Some say you're sleeping, %but I say you're singing. %unforgettable queen TO MAKE A POEM IN PRISON First Line: It is hard %to make a poem in prison Last Line: Why, love has flown, %love has gone to glitten Subject(s): Poetry And Poets; Prisons And Prisoners TO THE MAN WHO SIDLED UP TO ME AND ASKED: 'HOW LONG YOU IN?' First Line: You need lightning UPON YOUR LEAVING First Line: Night %and in the warm blackness VARIOUS PROTESTANTS FROM VARIOUS PEOPLE First Line: Esther say I drink too much VIGO COUNTY First Line: Beyond the brown hill VIOLENT SPACE First Line: Exchange in greed the ungraceful signs. Thrust Subject(s): Prostitution WARDEN SAID TO ME THE OTHER DAY Last Line: I ain't for sure, but I reckon it's 'cause %we ain't got nowheres to run to WASP WOMAN VISITS A BLACK JUNKIE IN PRISON First Line: After explanations and regulations, he Last Line: And for hours used no hot words Subject(s): Alcoholics And Alcoholism; Prisons And Prisoners; Social Classes WE FREE SINGERS BE Last Line: Turned up our collars %and rode the subway home? %we free singers be, baby, %we free singers be WE FREE SINGERS BE WELCOME BACK, MR. KNIGHT: LOVE OF MY LIFE Recitation First Line: Welcome back, mr. K: love of my life Subject(s): Alcoholism & Alcoholics; Men; Drunkards; Alcohol Abuse WELCOME BACK, MR. KNIGHT: LOVE OF MY LIFE First Line: Welcome back, mr. K: love of my life Last Line: You gotta watch / out for the 'ol liver' Subject(s): Alcoholics And Alcoholism; Men WILD NEGRO BILL Recitation by Author YOU ARE Poem Text First Line: You are a sunrise Last Line: You are a sunrise Subject(s): Love YOU ARE |
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