Classic and Contemporary Poetry
LYNCHED, by FRANK ANKENBRAND JR. First Line: The flames that licked his bronzed Last Line: But, american-like, does not act. Subject(s): Lynching | ||||||||
The flames that licked his bronzed Body into deathless ash Have leaped into a giant flame And burned and blackened all the sky; For beauty burned and died with him. No stars can shine again; Our hearts can never smile; These lips of ours can never part in mirth; For in the dust about our feet, Trampled into earth, are the white ashes of a man, Who went to his death in a black flame. The clouds above are black with soot While bolts of lightning, finger-like, Point down in shame at this smoldering fire, This heap of nauseating ash; For God sees and disapproves But, American-like, does not act. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NICE DAY FOR A LYNCHING by KENNETH PATCHEN THE LAST QUATRAIN OF THE BALLAD OF EMMETT TILL by GWENDOLYN BROOKS A LITANY OF ATLANTA by WILLIAM EDWARD BURGHARDT DU BOIS THE HAUNTED OAK by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR SONG FOR A DARK GIRL by JAMES LANGSTON HUGHES BROTHERS by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON POEM FOR PICTURE: TO A DRAWING OF A HORSE BY GEORGIO DI CHIRICO by FRANK ANKENBRAND JR. POEM FOR PICTURE: TO A PORTRAIT BY EDWARD STEICHEN (RACHMANINOFF) by FRANK ANKENBRAND JR. POEM FOR PICTURE: TO AN OIL PAINTING BY WINSLOW HOMER (DRIFTWOOD) by FRANK ANKENBRAND JR. |
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