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Discover our poem explanations - click here!Searching... Author: BROOKS, GWENDOLYN Matches Found: 256 Brooks, Gwendolyn Poet's Biography 256 poems available by this author A BRONZEVILLE MOTHER LOITERS IN MISSISSIPPI Poem Text First Line: From the first it had been like a / ballad Subject(s): African Americans - Women A LIGHT AND DIPLOMATIC BIRD Poem Text A PENITENT CONSIDERS ANOTHER COMING OF MARY Poem Text First Line: If mary came would mary / forgive, as mothers may Last Line: If mary came again Subject(s): Christmas; Nativity, The A SONG IN THE FRONT YARD Poem Text Recitation by Author First Line: I've stayed in the front yard all my life Last Line: And strut down the streets with paint on my face. Subject(s): Children; Childhood A SUNSET OF THE CITY Poem Text Recitation First Line: Already I am no longer looked at with lechery or love. Subject(s): Aging; Family Life; Relatives AFTER MECCA ANDRE Poem Text First Line: I had a dream last night. I dreamed Last Line: They were the ones I always had! Subject(s): African Americans; Family Life; Negroes; American Blacks; Relatives ANDRE First Line: I had a dream last night. I dreamed Last Line: They were the ones I always had! Subject(s): African Americans; Family Life ANNIAD First Line: Think of sweet and chocolate Last Line: Kissing in her kitchenette %the minuets of memory Subject(s): African Americans - Women ANNIE ALLEN ANNIE ALLEN: MEMORIAL TO ED BLAND First Line: He grew up being curious APPENDIX TO THE ANNIAD: 1 ( THOUSANDS - KILLED IN ACTION ) First Line: You need the untranslatable ice to watch Last Line: Why nothing exhausts you like this sympathy Subject(s): African Americans - Women APPENDIX TO THE ANNIAD: 1 (THOUSANDS - KILLED IN ACTION) Poem Text First Line: You need the untranslatable ice to watch Last Line: Why nothing exhausts you like this sympathy Subject(s): War APPENDIX TO THE ANNIAD: 2 Poem Text First Line: The certainty we two shall meet by god Last Line: Bees in the stomach, sweat across the brow. Now Subject(s): African Americans - Women APPENDIX TO THE ANNIAD: 2 First Line: The certainty we two shall meet by god Last Line: Bees in the stomach, sweat across the brow. Now Subject(s): African Americans - Women APPENDIX TO THE ANNIAD: 3. THE SONNET-BALLAD First Line: Oh mother, mother, where is happiness? ART First Line: Art can survive ARTISTS' AND MODELS' BALL First Line: Wonders do not confuse. We call them that Last Line: Our backs they alter. How were we to know Subject(s): African Americans ASPECT OF LOVE, ALICE IN THE ICE AND FIRE First Line: It is the morning of our love ASSASSINATION OF JOHN F. KENNEDY First Line: I hear things crying in the world Subject(s): Kennedy, John Fitzgerald (1917-1963) BALLAD OF LATE ANNIE First Line: Late annie in her bower lay Last Line: With melted opals for my milk, %pearl-leaf for my cracker BALLAD OF PEARL MAY LEE First Line: Then off they took you, off to jail BALLAD OF RUDOLPH REED First Line: Rudolph reed was oaken Last Line: Her oak-eyed mother did no thing %but change the bloody gauze BALLAD OF THE LIGHT-EYED GIRL First Line: Sweet sally took a cardboard-box Last Line: Funeral for him whose epitaph %in 'pigeon - under ground' Subject(s): Pigeons BEAUTY SHOPPE First Line: We use ardena here.' madame celeste BESSIE OF BRONZEVILLE VISITS MARY AND NORMAN First Line: You said, 'now take your shoes off,' while what played BEVERLY HILLS, CHICAGO Poem Text First Line: The dry brown coughing beneath their feet Last Line: When we speak to each other our voices are a little gruff Subject(s): Social Classes; Caste BEVERLY HILLS, CHICAGO First Line: The dry brown coughing beneath their feet Last Line: When we speak to each other our voices are a little gruff Subject(s): Social Classes BIRTH IN A NARROW ROOM First Line: Weeps out of western country something new Last Line: And where the bugs buzz by in private cars %across old peach cans and old jelly jars Subject(s): African Americans - Women; Birth BLACKSTONE RANGERS: 1. AS SEEN BY DISCIPLINES First Line: There they are Last Line: That do not want to heal BLACKSTONE RANGERS: 2. THE LEADERS First Line: Jeff. Gene. Geronimo. And bop Last Line: Construct, strangely, a monstrous pearl or grace Subject(s): African Americans - Children BLACKSTONE RANGERS: 3. GANG GIRLS; A RANGERETTE First Line: Gang girls are sweet exotics Last Line: The rhymes of leaning Subject(s): African Americans - Women BOY BREAKING GLASS Poem Text First Line: Whose broken window is a cry of art Subject(s): Crime & Criminals BOY BREAKING GLASS First Line: Whose broken window is a cry of art Last Line: A hymn, a snare, and an exceeding sum BOY DIED IN MY ALLEY First Line: Without my having known Last Line: The red floor of my alley %is a special speech to me Subject(s): Death BRONZEVILLE MAN WITH A BELT IN THE BACK First Line: In such an armor he may rise and raid Last Line: But never smile. %in such an armor he cannot be slain BRONZEVILLE MOTHER LOITERS IN MISSISSIPPI First Line: From the first it had been like a %ballad Last Line: The rest of the rugged music. %the last quatrain Subject(s): African Americans - Women BRONZEVILLE WOMAN IN A RED HAT Poem Text First Line: They had never had one in the house before Last Line: Child, big black woman, pretty kitchen towels Subject(s): African Americans - Women; Household Employees; Servants; Domestics; Maids BRONZEVILLE WOMAN IN A RED HAT First Line: They had never had one in the house before Last Line: Child, big black woman, pretty kitchen towels Subject(s): African Americans - Women; Household Employees BUILDING Poem Text First Line: When I see a brave building Last Line: Here it stands Subject(s): Buildings & Builders BUILDING First Line: When I see a brave building Last Line: Forging the human spirit that can outwit %big building boasting in the cityworld Subject(s): Buildings And Builders CALLIE FORD First Line: It's a day for running out of town CHICAGO DEFENDER SENDS A MAN TO LITTLE ROCK, FALL, 1957 First Line: In little rock the people bear %babes, and comb and part their hair Last Line: The loveliest lynchee was our lord Variant Title(s): The Chicago Defender Sends A Man To Little Roc Subject(s): African Americans; Civil Rights Movement CHICAGO PICASSO, AUGUST 15, 1967 First Line: Does man love art? Man visits art, squirms Last Line: As meaningful and as meaningless as any %other flower in the western field Subject(s): Art And Artists; Picasso, Pablo (1881-1973); Sculpture And Sculptors CHILDREN COMING HOME, SELS. Subject(s): African Americans - Children; Alphabet Verse; Ancestors And Ancestry CHILDREN OF THE POOR First Line: People who have no children can be hard Last Line: But reaching is his rule Variant Title(s): People Who Have No Children Can Be Har Subject(s): African Americans CHILDREN OF THE POOR, SELS. First Line: And shall I prime my children, pray, to pray? Last Line: Holding the bandage ready for your eyes CONTEMPLATION OF SUICIDE: THE TEMPTATION OF TIMOTHY First Line: One poises, poses, at track, or range, or river COORA FLOWER First Line: Today I learned the coora flower Last Line: I must not dare to sleep CRAZY WOMAN First Line: I shall not sing a may song Last Line: Who would not sing in may' Subject(s): Women CYNTHIA IN THE SNOW First Line: It sushes DAVID ANDERSON First Line: David anderson! - an exuberant commitment to a wise shaping of our time Last Line: David anderson is a friend to language and life DE KOVEN First Line: You are a dandy little thing DO NOT BE AFRAID OF NO Last Line: Her new wish was to smile %when answers took no airships, walked a while DOWNTOWN VAUDEVILLE First Line: What was not pleasant was the hush that coughed EGG BOILER First Line: Being you, you cut your poetry from wood Last Line: Shaping a gorgeous nothingness from cloud. %you watch us, eat your egg, and laugh aloud Subject(s): Eggs EMPTY WOMAN First Line: The empty woman took toys! Last Line: And bouffants that bustle, and rustle Subject(s): Infertility ESTIMABLE MABLE First Line: I always think that when I see you you Last Line: Will like me less that you expected to EXHAUST THE LITTLE MOMENT. SOON IT DIES EXPLORER First Line: Somehow to find a still spot in the noise FIRST FIGHT. THEN FIDDLE First Line: First fight. Then fiddle. Ply the slipping string Last Line: Wherein to play your violin with grace FIRSTLY INCLINED TO TAKE WHAT IT IS TOLD Poem Text First Line: Thee sacrosanct, - thee sweet, thee crystalline Last Line: I had been brightly ready to believe Subject(s): African Americans - Military FOR CLARICE IT IS TERRIBLE First Line: They were going to have so much fun in the summer FROM THE BLACKSTONE RANGERS First Line: Gang girls are sweet exotics. Last Line: The rhymes of leaning FUNERAL First Line: To whatever you incline, your final choice here must be handling GAY CHAPS AT THE BAR Poem Text First Line: We knew how to order. Just the dash Last Line: To holler down the lions in this air Subject(s): African Americans - Military GAY CHAPS AT THE BAR First Line: We knew how to order. Just the dash Last Line: To holler down the lions in this air Subject(s): African Americans - Military GAY CHAPS AT THE BAR First Line: We knew how to order. Just the dash Last Line: To holler down the lions in this air. GAY CHAPS AT THE BAR First Line: We knew how to order. Just the dash Last Line: To honey and bread old purity could love GAY CHAPS AT THE BAR: 'GOD WORKS IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY' First Line: But often now the youthful eye cuts down its Last Line: Or we assume a sovereignty ourselves Subject(s): African Americans - Military GAY CHAPS AT THE BAR: FIRSTLY INCLINED TO TAKE WHAT IT IS TOLD First Line: Thee sacrosanct, - thee sweet, thee crystalline Last Line: With billowing heartiness no whit withheld Subject(s): African Americans - Military GAY CHAPS AT THE BAR: LOOKING First Line: You have no word for soldiers to enjoy Last Line: Nor the heaviest haul your little boy from harm Subject(s): African Americans - Military GAY CHAPS AT THE BAR: LOVE NOTE: 1. SURELY First Line: Surely you stay my certain own, you say Last Line: And I doubt all. You. Or a violet Subject(s): African Americans - Military GAY CHAPS AT THE BAR: LOVE NOTE: 2. FLAGS First Line: Still, it is dear defiance now to carry Last Line: Or like the tender struggle of a fan Subject(s): African Americans - Military GAY CHAPS AT THE BAR: MENTORS First Line: For I am rightful fellow of their band Last Line: Light for the midnight that is mine and theirs Subject(s): African Americans - Military GAY CHAPS AT THE BAR: PIANO AFTER WAR Poem Text First Line: On a snug evening I shall watch her fingers Variant Title(s): Piano After War Subject(s): African Americans - Military; Musical Instruments; Pianos GAY CHAPS AT THE BAR: PIANO AFTER WAR First Line: On a snug evening I shall watch her fingers Last Line: And stone will shove the softness from my face Variant Title(s): Piano After Wa Subject(s): African Americans - Military; Musical Instruments; Pianos GAY CHAPS AT THE BAR: STILL DO I KEEP MY LOOK, MY IDENTITY First Line: Each body has its art, its precious prescribed Last Line: It showed at baseball. What it showed in school Variant Title(s): Still Do I Keep My Look, My Identit Subject(s): African Americans - Military GAY CHAPS AT THE BAR: THE PROGRESS First Line: And still we wear our uniforms, follow Last Line: Of iron feet again. And again wild Variant Title(s): Gay Chaps At The Bar; The Progres Subject(s): African Americans - Military GAY CHAPS AT THE BAR: THE WHITE TROOPS HAD THEIR ORDERS ... Poem Text First Line: They had supposed their formula was fixed Subject(s): African Americans - Military GAY CHAPS AT THE BAR: THE WHITE TROOPS HAD THEIR ORDERS ... First Line: They had supposed their formula was fixed Last Line: And there was nothing startling in the weather Subject(s): African Americans - Military GHOST AT THE QUINCY CLUB First Line: All filmy down she drifts GOD WORKS IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY' Poem Text First Line: But often now the youthful eye cuts down its Last Line: Or we assume a sovereignty ourselves Subject(s): African Americans - Military HATTIE SCOTT: AT THE HAIRDRESSER'S First Line: Gimme me an upsweep, minnie HATTIE SCOTT: THE BATTLE First Line: Moe belle jackson's husband %whipped her good last night HATTIE SCOTT: THE DATE First Line: If she don't hurry up and let me out of here HATTIE SCOTT: THE END OF THE DAY First Line: It's usually from the insides of the door HATTIE SCOTT: WHEN I DIE First Line: No lodge with banners flappin'. HENRY RAGO Poem Text First Line: Of people, these HUNCHBACK GIRL: SHE THINKS OF HEAVEN Poem Text First Line: My father, it is surely a blue place Last Line: Proper myself, princess of properness. Subject(s): Physical Disabilities; Handicapped; Handicaps; Physically Challenged; Cripples I LOVE THOSE LITTLE BOOTHS AT BENVENUTI'S First Line: They get to benvenuti's. There are booths IN EMANUEL'S NIGHTMARE: ANOTHER COMING OF CHRIST First Line: There had been quiet all that afternoon IN HONOR OF DAVID ANDERSON BROOKS, MY FATHER Poem Text First Line: A dryness is upon the house Last Line: Old private charity Subject(s): Fathers & Daughters IN HONOR OF DAVID ANDERSON BROOKS, MY FATHER First Line: A dryness is upon the house Last Line: Translates to public love %old private charity Subject(s): Fathers And Daughters IN THE MECCA First Line: Sit where the light corrupts your face INTERMISSION First Line: By all things planetary, sweet, I swear JACK First Line: Is not spendthrift of faith Last Line: And comes it up his faith brought false, %it's long gone from the store JANE ADDAMS Poem Text Recitation by Author First Line: I am jane addams Last Line: So speaks a giant. Jane Subject(s): Addams, Jane (1860-1935); Reform & Reformers JANE ADDAMS First Line: I am jane addams Last Line: Nourishing here, there; %pressing a hand %among the ruins, %& among the %seeds of restoration. %so s Subject(s): Addams, Jane (1860-1935); Reform And Reformers JANE ADDAMS: SEPTEMBER 6, 1860-MAY 21, 1935 First Line: I am jane addams. %I am saying to the giantless time Last Line: And among the %seeds of restoration. %so speaks a giant. Jane JESSIE MITCHELL'S MOTHER First Line: Into her mother's bedroom to wash the ballooning body Last Line: Refueled %triumphant long-exhaled breaths. %her exquisite yellow youth JESSIE MITCHELL€™S MOTHER Poem Text Subject(s): Mothers & Daughters; Youth KID BRUIN ARRANGES ANOTHER TITLE DEFENSE First Line: I rode into the golden yell KITCHENETTE BUILDING Poem Text Recitation by Author First Line: We are things of dry hours and the involuntary plan Last Line: We think of lukewarm water, hope to get in it. Subject(s): African Americans; Negroes; American Blacks KOJO- I AM A BLACK First Line: According to my teachers, %I am now an african-american Last Line: Do not call me out of my name LAST QUATRAIN OF THE BALLAD OF EMMETT TILL First Line: After the murder, %after the burial Last Line: Chaos in windy grays %through a red prairie Subject(s): African Americans - Children; Lynching; Till, Emmett (1941-1955) LEFTIST ORATOR IN WASHINGTON PARK First Line: Poor pale-eyed, thrice-gulping amazed LIFE OF LINCOLN WEST First Line: Ugliest little boy Last Line: It comforted him Subject(s): African Americans - Children LIGHT AND DIPLOMATIC BIRD LOOKING Poem Text First Line: You have no word for soldiers to enjoy Last Line: Nor the heaviest haul your little boy from harm Subject(s): African Americans - Military LOVE NOTE: 1. SURELY Poem Text First Line: Surely you stay my certain own, you say Last Line: And I doubt all. You. Or a violet Subject(s): African Americans - Military LOVE NOTE: 2. FLAGS Poem Text First Line: Still, it is dear defiance now to carry Last Line: Or like the tender struggle of a fan Subject(s): African Americans – Military; Forgiveness LOVELY LOVE First Line: Let it be alleys. Let it be a hall Last Line: Definitionless in this strict atmosphere LOVERS OF THE POOR First Line: Arrive. The ladies from the ladies's betterment league Last Line: Try to avoid inhaling the laden air Variant Title(s): The Lovers Of The Poor Arriv Subject(s): Poverty MALCOLM X Poem Text First Line: Original / ragged-round Subject(s): African Americans; Malcolm X (malcolm Little) (1925-1965); Negroes; American Blacks MALCOLM X First Line: Original %ragged-round Last Line: Who was a man Subject(s): African Americans; Malcolm X (malcolm Little) (1925-1965) MAN OF THE MIDDLE CLASS First Line: I'm what has gone out blithely and with noise MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. First Line: A man went forth with gifts Last Line: So it shall be spoken. %so it shall be done MATTHEW COLE First Line: Here are the facts %he's sixty-six MAURICE MAXIE ALLEN ALWAYS TAUGHT HER Last Line: And gives you only a little money Variant Title(s): Maxie Alle MAYOR HAROLD WASHINGTON Poem Text First Line: Mayor. Worldman. Historyman Subject(s): Politics And Politicians; Washington, Harold (1922-1987) MEDGAR EVERS Poem Text First Line: The man whose height his fear improved he Subject(s): Civil Rights Movement; Evers, Medgar (1925-1963) MEDGAR EVERS First Line: The man whose height his fear improved he Last Line: He was holding clean globes in his hands Subject(s): Civil Rights Movement; Evers, Medgar (1925-1963) MEN OF CAREFUL TURNS, HATERS OF FORKS IN THE ROAD MENTORS Poem Text First Line: For I am rightful fellow of their band Last Line: Light is the midnight for mine and theirs Subject(s): African Americans - Military MERLE- UNCLE SEAGRAM First Line: My uncle likes me too much Last Line: I do not like my uncle anymore MEXIE AND BRIDIE Poem Text First Line: A tiny tea-party Last Line: Tea-ing in the town Subject(s): Girls MEXIE AND BRIDIE First Line: A tiny tea-party Last Line: There are no finer ladies %tea-ing in the town Subject(s): Children MICHAEL IS AFRAID OF THE STORM Poem Text First Line: Lightning is angry in the night Last Line: No one will laugh, I guess Subject(s): Storms MICHAEL IS AFRAID OF THE STORM First Line: Lightning is angry in the night Last Line: No one will laugh, I guess Subject(s): Storms MRS. SMALL Poem Text First Line: Mrs. Small went to the kitchen for her pocketbook Last Line: Of the world's business Subject(s): Women's Rights; African Americans – Women; Insurance & Insurance Agents MRS. SMALL First Line: Mrs. Small went to the kitchen for her pocketbook Last Line: Of the world's business Subject(s): Women MURDER First Line: This is where poor percy died MY DREAMS, MY WORKS, MUST WAIT TILL AFTER HELL Poem Text First Line: I hold my honey and I store my bread Subject(s): African Americans - Military MY DREAMS, MY WORKS, MUST WAIT TILL AFTER HELL First Line: I hold my honey and I store my bread Last Line: To honey and bread old purity could love Subject(s): African Americans - Military MY LITTLE 'BOUT-TOWN GAL HAS GONE MY OWN SWEET GOOD First Line: Not needing, really, my own sweet good NAOMI First Line: Too foraging to blue-print or deploy NARCISSA Poem Text First Line: Some of the girls are playing jacks Last Line: As anyone ever sat! Subject(s): Girls NARCISSA First Line: Some of the girls are playing jacks Last Line: While sitting still, as still, as still %as anyone ever sat! Subject(s): Girls NEAR-JOHANNESBURG BOY First Line: My way is from woe to wonder Last Line: We shall Subject(s): South Africa NEGRO HERO (TO SUGGEST DORIE MILLER) First Line: I had to kick their law into their teeth ... To save them NOTES FROM THE CHILDHOOD AND THE GIRLHOOD OBITUARY FOR A LIVING LADY First Line: My friend was decently wild OF DE WITT WILLIAMS ON HIS WAY TO LINCOLN CEMETERY Poem Text Recitation by Author First Line: He was born in alabama Last Line: Nothing but a plain black boy. Subject(s): African Americans; Negroes; American Blacks OF ROBERT FROST Poem Text First Line: There is a little lightning in his eyes Last Line: Some specialness within Subject(s): Frost, Robert (1874-1963); Poetry & Poets OF ROBERT FROST First Line: There is a little lightning in his eyes Last Line: Some specialness within Subject(s): Frost, Robert (1874-1963); Poetry And Poets OLD LAUGHTER First Line: The men and women long ago OLD MARY Poem Text First Line: My last defense Subject(s): Old Age OLD MARY First Line: My last defense %is the present tense OLD PEOPLE WORKING (GARDEN, CAR) Poem Text First Line: Old people working. Making a gift of garden Last Line: A way of greeting or sally to the crowd Subject(s): Labor & Laborers; Work; Workers OLD PEOPLE WORKING (GARDEN, CAR) First Line: Old people working. Making a gift of garden Subject(s): Labor And Laborers OLD RELATIVE First Line: After the baths and bowel-work, he was dead Last Line: Since for a week she must not play 'charmaine' %or 'honey bunch,' or 'singing in the rain' OLD-MARRIEDS First Line: But in the crowding darkness not a word did they say Last Line: It was quite a time for loving, it was midnight. It was may.%but in the crowding darkness not a word ON THE OCCASION OF THE OPEN-AIR FORMATION ... NATURE CLUB First Line: We shall go playing in the woods again! ONE WANTS A TELLER IN A TIME LIKE THIS OTTO First Line: It's christmas day. I did not get the presents that I hoped for Last Line: It's hard enough for him to bear Subject(s): Christmas PARENTS: PEOPLE LIKE OUR MARRIAGE, MAXIE AND ANDREW First Line: Clogged and soft and sloppy eyes Last Line: Pleasant custards sit behind %the white venetian blind PATENT LEATHER First Line: That cool chick down on calumet PAUL ROBESON First Line: That time Last Line: We are each other's %business: %we are each other's %magnitude and bond PENITENT CONSIDERS ANOTHER COMING OF MARY First Line: If mary came would mary %forgive, as mothers may Subject(s): Christmas PEOPLE PROTEST IN SPRAWLING LIGHTLESS WAYS PETE AT THE ZOO Poem Text First Line: I wonder if the elephant Last Line: Against the dark of night Subject(s): Elephants; Zoos PETE AT THE ZOO First Line: I wonder if the elephant Subject(s): Friendship PRIMER FOR BLACKS Poem Text First Line: Blackness/is a title Subject(s): African Americans; Negroes; American Blacks PRIMER FOR BLACKS First Line: Blackness %is a title Last Line: Niggeroes and niggerenes. %you PRISCILLA ASSAILS THE SEPULCHRE OF LOVE First Line: I can't unlock my eyes because PYGMIES ARE PYGMIES STILL, THOUGH PERCHT ON ALPS' First Line: But can see better there, and laughing there Last Line: Pounds breast-bone punily, screeches, and has %reached no alps; or, knows no alps to reach QUEEN OF THE BLUES Poem Text First Line: Mame was singing Last Line: Their hats to a queen? Subject(s): Blues (music); Jazz; Music & Musicians; Singing & Singers; Songs QUEEN OF THE BLUES First Line: Mame was singing Last Line: Why don't they tip %their hats to a queen? Subject(s): Blues (music); Jazz; Music And Musicians; Singing And Singers RESURGAM First Line: Long have I lain in that dull corner forgotten RIOT Poem Text First Line: John cabot, out of wilma, once a wycliffe Subject(s): African Americans; Civil Rights Movement; Negroes; American Blacks RIOT First Line: John cabot, out of wilma, once a wycliffe Last Line: Forgive these nigguhs that know not what they do RITES FOR COUSIN VIT First Line: Carried her unprotesting out the door Last Line: In parks or alleys, comes haply on the verge %of happiness, haply hysterics. Is Subject(s): Funerals SADIE AND MAUD Poem Text First Line: Maud went to college Last Line: In this old house. Subject(s): African Americans - Women SOFT MAN First Line: Disgusting, isn't it, dealing out the damns SPEECH TO THE YOUNG. SPEECH TO THE PROGRESS-TOWARD Poem Text First Line: Say to them Last Line: Live in the along Subject(s): Youth SPEECH TO THE YOUNG. SPEECH TO THE PROGRESS-TOWARD First Line: Say to them Last Line: Live in the along Subject(s): Youth STILL DO I KEEP MY LOOK, MY IDENTITY Poem Text First Line: Each body has its art, its precious prescribed Last Line: It showed at baseball. What it showed in school Variant Title(s): Still Do I Keep My Look, My Identity Subject(s): African Americans - Military STILL DO I KEEP MY LOOK, MY IDENTITY €¦ Poem Text First Line: Each body has its art, its precious prescribed Subject(s): Identity STRONG MEN, RIDING HORSES Poem Text First Line: Strong men, riding horses. In the west STRONG MEN, RIDING HORSES First Line: Strong men, riding horses. In the west Last Line: To word-wall off that broadness of the dark %is pitiful. %I am not brave at all SUNDAY CHICKEN First Line: Chicken, she chided early, should not wait Last Line: Nor hate the handsome tiger, call him devil %to man-feast, manifesting sunday evil SUNDAYS OF SATIN-LEGS SMITH First Line: Inamoratas, with an approbation Last Line: Her body like summer earth, %receptive, soft, and absolute Subject(s): African Americans; Jazz; Music And Musicians SUNSET OF THE CITY First Line: Already I am no longer looked at with lechery or love Last Line: Somebody muffed it? Somebody wanted to joke THE ANNIAD Poem Text First Line: Think of sweet and chocolate Last Line: The minuets of memory Subject(s): African Americans – Women; Virgil (70-19 B.c.) THE ARTISTS' AND MODELS' BALL Poem Text First Line: Wonders do not confuse. We call them that Last Line: Our backs they alter. How were we to know Subject(s): African Americans; Negroes; American Blacks THE ASSASSINATION OF JOHN F. KENNEDY Poem Text First Line: I hear things crying in the world Last Line: The tilt and jangle of this death Subject(s): Kennedy, John Fitzgerald (1917-1963) THE BALLAD OF RUDOLPH REED Poem Text First Line: Rudolph reed was oaken Subject(s): Racism; Racial Prejudice; Bigotry THE BEAN EATERS Poem Text First Line: They eat beans mostly, this old yellow pair Last Line: Tobacco crumbs, vases and fringes. Subject(s): African Americans - Women; Farm Life; Old Age; United States; Women; Agriculture; Farmers; America THE BIRTH IN A NARROW ROOM Poem Text First Line: Weeps out of western country something new Subject(s): African Americans - Women; Birth; Child Birth; Midwifery THE BLACKSTONE RANGERS: 1. AS SEEN BY DISCIPLINES Poem Text First Line: There they are THE BLACKSTONE RANGERS: 2. THE LEADERS Poem Text First Line: Jeff. Gene. Geronimo. And bop Subject(s): African Americans - Children THE BLACKSTONE RANGERS: 3. GANG GIRLS; A RANGERETTE Poem Text First Line: Gang girls are sweet exotics Subject(s): African Americans - Women THE BOY DIED IN MY ALLEY Poem Text First Line: Without my having known Subject(s): Death; Dead, The THE CHICAGO DEFENDER SENDS A MAN TO LITTLE ROCK, FALL, 1957 Poem Text First Line: In little rock the people bear / babes, and comb and part their hair Variant Title(s): The Chicago Defender Sends A Man To Little Rock Subject(s): African Americans; Civil Rights Movement; Negroes; American Blacks THE CHICAGO PICASSO, AUGUST 15, 1967 Poem Text First Line: Does man love art? Man visits art, squirms Subject(s): Art & Artists; Picasso, Pablo (1881-1973); Sculpture & Sculptors THE CHILDREN OF THE POOR Poem Text Recitation First Line: People who have no children can be hard Last Line: Holding the bandage ready for your eyes Variant Title(s): "people Who Have No Children Can Be Hard""; Subject(s): African Americans; Negroes; American Blacks THE COORA FLOWER Poem Text First Line: Now I am coming home Subject(s): Homecoming THE CRAZY WOMAN Poem Text First Line: I shall not sing a may song Last Line: Who would not sing in may Subject(s): Women THE EGG BOILER Poem Text First Line: Being you, you cut your poetry from wood Last Line: You watch us, eat your egg, and laugh aloud Subject(s): Eggs THE EMPTY WOMAN Poem Text First Line: The empty woman took toys! Last Line: And bouffants that bustle, and rustle Subject(s): Infertility THE LAST QUATRAIN OF THE BALLAD OF EMMETT TILL Poem Text First Line: After the murder, / after the burial Subject(s): African Americans - Children; Lynching; Till, Emmett (1941-1955) THE LIFE OF LINCOLN WEST Poem Text First Line: Ugliest little boy Last Line: It comforted him Subject(s): African Americans - Children THE LOVERS OF THE POOR Poem Text First Line: Arrive. The ladies from the ladies's betterment league Variant Title(s): "the Lovers Of The Poor Arrive""; Subject(s): Poverty THE MAMA Recitation by Author THE MOTHER Poem Text First Line: Abortions will not let you forget Last Line: All. Subject(s): Abortion; African Americans; African Americans - Women; Mothers; Negroes; American Blacks THE NEAR-JOHANNESBURG BOY Poem Text First Line: My way is from woe to wonder Subject(s): South Africa THE PREACHER: RUMINATES BEHIND THE SERMON Poem Text First Line: I think it must be lonely to be god Last Line: In solitude. Without a hand to hold. Subject(s): African Americans; God; Negroes; American Blacks THE PROGRESS Poem Text First Line: And still we wear our uniforms, follow Last Line: Of iron feet again. And again wild Variant Title(s): Gay Chaps At The Bar;the Progress Subject(s): African Americans - Military THE RITES FOR COUSIN VIT Poem Text First Line: Carried her unprotesting out the door Subject(s): Funerals; Burials THE SECOND SERMON ON THE WARPLAND Poem Text First Line: This is the urgency: live! Last Line: Conduct your blooming in the noise and whip of the whirlwind. Subject(s): African Americans - Women THE SERMON ON THE WARPLAND Poem Text First Line: And several strengths from drowsiness campaigned Last Line: "complete; continuous." Subject(s): African Americans; Negroes; American Blacks THE SONNET-BALLAD Poem Text First Line: Oh mother, mother, where is happiness? Subject(s): Happiness; Mothers; Joy; Delight THE SUNDAYS OF SATIN-LEGS SMITH Poem Text First Line: Inamoratas, with an approbation Subject(s): African Americans; Jazz; Music & Musicians; Negroes; American Blacks THE THIRD SERMON ON THE WARPLAND Poem Text First Line: The earth is a beautiful place Last Line: You could make music too / the blackblues Subject(s): African Americans - Song & Music; Jazz; Music & Musicians; Phoenix (mythical Bird) THE VACANT LOT Poem Text Last Line: And letting them out again. Subject(s): Family Life; Relatives THE WALL Poem Text First Line: A drumdrumdrum. THIRD SERMON ON THE WARPLAND First Line: The earth is a beautiful place Last Line: The dust, as they say, settled Subject(s): African Americans - Song And Music; Jazz; Music And Musicians THROWING OUT THE FLOWERS First Line: The duck fats rot in the roasting pan Last Line: And so for the end of our life to a man, %just over, just over and all TO A WINTER SQUIRREL First Line: That is the way god made you TO AN OLD BLACK WOMAN, HOMELESS AND INDISTINCT First Line: Your every day is a pilgrimage Subject(s): African Americans - Women; Homeless; Women – Old Age TO AN OLD BLACK WOMAN, HOMELESS AND INDISTINCT First Line: Your every day is a pilgrimage Last Line: Folks used to say 'that child is going far' Subject(s): African Americans - Women; Homeless TO BE IN LOVE Poem Text Recitation First Line: To be in love / is to touch things with a lighter hand Last Line: Into the commonest ash Subject(s): Love TO BE IN LOVE First Line: To be in love %is to touch things with a lighter hand Last Line: To see fall down, the column of gold, %into the commonest ash Subject(s): Love TO BLACK WOMEN First Line: Sisters, %where there is cold silence- Last Line: And you create and train your flowers still Variant Title(s): To The Diaspora: To Black Wome TO THE DIASPORA: A WELCOME SONG FOR LAINI NZINGA First Line: Hello, little sister Last Line: We love and we receive you as our own TO THE DIASPORA: MUSIC FOR MARTYRS Poem Text First Line: I feel a regret, steve biko Last Line: Of your tracts, your triumphs, your tribulations Subject(s): Biko, Steve (1946-1977) TO THE DIASPORA: MUSIC FOR MARTYRS First Line: I feel a regret, steve biko Last Line: Of your tracts, your truimphs, your tribulations Subject(s): Biko, Steve (1946-1977) TO THE DIASPORA: TO PRISONERS First Line: I call for you cultivation of strength in the dark Last Line: In the chalk and choke TO THE DIASPORA: YOU DID NOT KNOW YOU WERE AFRIKA Poem Text First Line: When you set out for afrika Last Line: Your work, that was done, to be done to be done to be done Subject(s): African Americans; Ancestors & Ancestry; Negroes; American Blacks; Heritage; Heredity TO THE DIASPORA: YOU DID NOT KNOW YOU WERE AFRIKA First Line: When you set out for afrika Last Line: Your work, that was done, to be done to be done to be done Subject(s): African Americans; Ancestors And Ancestry TO THOSE OF MY SISTERS WHO KEPT THEIR NATURALS Poem Text First Line: Sisters! I love you Subject(s): African Americans - Women; Conformity; Pride; Self-esteem; Self-respect TO THOSE OF MY SISTERS WHO KEPT THEIR NATURALS First Line: Sisters! I love you Last Line: The natural respect of self and seal! %sisters! %your hair is celebration in the world! Subject(s): African Americans - Women; Conformity; Pride TRUTH Poem Text First Line: And if sun comes TRUTH First Line: And if sun comes Last Line: The dark hangs heavily %over the eyes ULYSSES- RELIGION First Line: At home we pray every morning, we Last Line: And we sing hallelujah VERN Poem Text First Line: When walking in a tiny rain Last Line: Nor mock the tears you have to hide Subject(s): Animals; Dogs; Friendship VERN First Line: When walking in a tiny rain Last Line: And let you snuggle down beside. %nor mock the tears you have to hide Subject(s): Animals; Dogs; Friendship WALL First Line: A drumdrumdrum %humbly we come Last Line: The old decapitations are revised, %the dispossessions beakless. %and we sing WE REAL COOL; THE POOL PLAYERS (GRAPHIC INTERPRETATION) First Line: We real cool. We %left school. We Last Line: Jazz june. We %die soon WE REAL COOL; THE POOL PLAYERS. SEVEN AT THE GOLDEN SHOVEL Poem Text Recitation by Author First Line: We real cool. We / left school. We Last Line: Die soon. Variant Title(s): We Real Cool Subject(s): African Americans; African Americans - Children; Americans; Death; Labor & Laborers; Men; United States; Youth; Negroes; American Blacks; Dead, The; Work; Workers; America WHAT SHALL I GIVE MY CHILDREN? Last Line: Across an autumn freezing everywhere WHEN MRS. MARTIN'S BOOKER T WHITNEY YOUNG First Line: Whitney, you were a candid structure hulking in event Subject(s): Civil Rights Movement; Fortitude; Young, Whitney Moore, Jr. (1921-1971) WHITNEY YOUNG First Line: Whitney, you were a candid structure hulking in event Subject(s): Civil Rights Movement; Fortitude; Young, Whitney Moore, Jr. (1921-1971) WINNIE Poem Text First Line: Winnie mandela, she Last Line: I nelson the mandela tell you so Subject(s): Mandela, Winnie (b. 1934) WINNIE First Line: Winnie mandela, she Subject(s): Mandela, Winnie (b. 1934) WOMANHOOD Subject(s): African Americans - Women YOUNG AFRIKANS Poem Text First Line: Who take today and jerk it out of joint Variant Title(s): Young Africans Subject(s): African Americans; Negroes; American Blacks YOUNG AFRIKANS First Line: Who take today and jerk it out of joint Last Line: Our hands, and our hot blood Variant Title(s): Young African YOUNG HEROES - I Poem Text First Line: He is very busy with his looking Subject(s): South Africa - Anti-apartheid Movement YOUNG HEROES: 1. KEORAPETSE KGOSITSILE (WILLIE) First Line: He is very busy with his looking Last Line: This foreign country speaks to you YOUNG HEROES: 2. TO DON AT SALAAM First Line: I like to see you lean back in your chair Last Line: I like to see you living in the world YOUNG HEROES: 3. WALTER BRADFORD First Line: Just as you think you're 'better now' Last Line: Not overmuch for a %tree-planting man %stay |
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