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Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Searching... Author: brown, sterling Matches Found: 144 Brown, Sterling Allen Poet's Biography 144 poems available by this author AFTER THE STORM First Line: There is a pathetic beauty in it all Last Line: Gayness to pathos, with no beauty lost Subject(s): Beauty; Rain AFTER WINTER Poem Text First Line: He snuggles his fingers Last Line: "runnin' space . . . " Subject(s): Farm Life; Hope; Agriculture; Farmers; Optimism AGAINST THAT DAY First Line: When your brave eyes are stopped with dust ALL ARE GAY First Line: The picture of content should be complete APRIL IN COOLWELL First Line: I know that I shall never see the rain ARKANSAS CHANT First Line: The devil is a rider BAD, BAD MAN First Line: Forget about your jesse james BALLAD OF JOE MEEK First Line: You cain't never tell Last Line: When you see him a-sleeping, %in the sun Subject(s): African Americans BESSIE First Line: Who will know bessie now of those who loved her BITTER FRUIT OF THE TREE Poem Text First Line: They said to my grandmother: 'please do not be bitter.' Subject(s): African Americans; Racism; Negroes; American Blacks; Racial Prejudice; Bigotry BITTER FRUIT OF THE TREE First Line: They said to my grandmother: 'please do not be bitter.' Last Line: All you need to know is: you must not be bitter Subject(s): African Americans; Racism BREAK OF DAY First Line: Big jess fired on the alabama central Last Line: But jess done gone, baby he done gone CABARET Poem Text First Line: Rich, flashy, puffy-faced / hebrew and anglo-saxon Subject(s): African Americans - Song & Music; Jazz; Music & Musicians CABARET First Line: Rich, flashy, puffy-faced %hebrew and anglo-saxon Last Line: Is a bitter reminder of death %dee da dee daaaah Subject(s): African Americans - Song And Music; Jazz; Music And Musicians CALL BOY First Line: Git out o' bed, you rascals Last Line: Actin' datway Subject(s): Railroads; Wanderers And Wandering CALL FOR BARNUM First Line: Conversation in the smoker CHALLENGE First Line: I said, in drunken pride of youth and you CHECKERS First Line: Mojo pete is bad CHILDREN OF THE MISSISSIPPI First Line: These know fear; for all their singing CHILDREN'S CHILDREN First Line: When they hear %these songs, born of the travail of their sires Last Line: And nudge each other's satin clad %sleek sides CHILLEN GET SHOES First Line: Hush little lily Last Line: You'll be like moll, too, %bye and bye Subject(s): African Americans - Children CHOICES First Line: Don't want no yaller gal, dat's a color will not stay Last Line: But I spec' she ain't born yet, and her mama she in the ground CLOTEEL First Line: Cloteel: %rampart street knows you now COLLOQUY (BLACK WORKER AND WHITE WORKER) First Line: It's been a long time since we got together, sam CONJURED First Line: She done put huh little hands Last Line: So long %alone Subject(s): African Americans CONVICT First Line: Jim is on the gang COOLWELL VIGNETTE (FROM VIRGINIA WOODS) First Line: There is not much that he would ask for now CRISPUS ATTACKS MCKOY First Line: I sing of a hero CROSSING First Line: This is not jordan river Last Line: Oh, one wide river to cross DARK OF THE MOON First Line: Plant a fence post EFFIE First Line: She who was easy for any chance lover ELDER MISTLETOE First Line: Now elder johnson's name has been changed EPISODE First Line: Black joe harmon has lost his job FOR A CERTAIN YOUNGSTER First Line: Never fear, my lad, the dark winter's rages Last Line: Making from failure all we know of hell! Subject(s): Children; Fear; Strength FORECLOSURE Poem Text First Line: Father missouri takes his own Last Line: And the old river rolls on, slowly to the gulf. Subject(s): Missouri River; Rivers FRANKIE AND JOHNNY First Line: Frankie was a half-wit, johnny was a nigger FUNERAL First Line: The garnish of the world's acclaim GEORGIE GRIMES, WITH A RED SUITCASE GLORY, GLORY First Line: When annie mae johnson condescends to take the air HARLEM HAPPINESS First Line: I think there is in this the stuff for many lyrics HARLEM STREET WALKERS First Line: Why do they walk so tragical HE WAS A MAN First Line: It wasn't about no woman %it wasn't about no rape Last Line: He wasd a man, an' we laid him down HONEY MAH LOVE First Line: Time is unsportsmanlike with us,' I said IDYLL First Line: I found me a cranny of perpetual dusk ISAIAH TO MANDY First Line: Oh de wagon keeps a rollin'. JOHNNY THOMAS First Line: Dey sent john thomas %to a one-room school KENTUCKY BLUES First Line: I'm kentucky born LAST RIDE OF WILD BILL: 1. THE CHALLENGE First Line: The new chief of police %banged his desk LAST RIDE OF WILD BILL: 2. THE NEWS First Line: The news flashed %messenger boys dashed LAST RIDE OF WILD BILL: 3. CIVIC RESPONSE First Line: The folks responded with civic pride LAST RIDE OF WILD BILL: 4. THE DAY: THE CHIEF First Line: Into his office %the new chief came LAST RIDE OF WILD BILL: 5. THE DAY: WILD BILL First Line: At eleven-thirty %wild bill was ready LAST RIDE OF WILD BILL: 6. THE DAY: THE SPECTATORS First Line: The schools might as well %have declared a holilday LAST RIDE OF WILD BILL: 7. THE CHASE: FIRST PART First Line: The hounds crossed a false trail LAST RIDE OF WILD BILL: 8. THE CHASE: SECOND PART First Line: Up on ashby %the cops were gaining LAST RIDE-OF WILD BILL: 10. THE LAST COLLECT First Line: When he came to %his bus was hitting LAST RIDE-OF WILD BILL: 9. THE CHASE: THIRD PART First Line: The fox heard the dogs bark LAW FOR GEORGE First Line: George %don't be no chinaman LEGEND First Line: The old black man was stood on the block LET US SUPPOSE LONG GONE First Line: I laks yo' kin' of lovin' Subject(s): Wandering & Wanderers; Wanderlust; Vagabonds; Tramps; Hoboes LONG GONE First Line: I laks yo' kin' of lovin' Last Line: Jes' my name and jes' my habit %to be long gone Subject(s): Wanderers And Wandering LONG TRACK BLUES First Line: Went down to the yards Last Line: Shine down on that babe o' mine Subject(s): Blues (music); Railroads LOUISIANA PASTORAL First Line: I gots to be gon now; we ding potaht MA RAINEY Poem Text First Line: When ma rainey comes to town Subject(s): African Americans - Song & Music; African Americans - Women; Blues (music); Jazz; Music & Musicians; Rainey, Ma (1886-1939); Singing & Singers; Women; Songs MA RAINEY First Line: When ma rainey comes to town Last Line: She jes' gits hold of us dataway Subject(s): African Americans - Song And Music; African Americans - Women; Blues (music); Jazz; Music And Musicians; Rainey, Ma (1886-1939); Singing And Singers; Women MASTER AND MAN First Line: The yellow ears are crammed and in mr. Cromartie's bin Last Line: Mr. Cromartie's harvest. Time now for rest MAUMEE RUTH First Line: Might as well bury her MECCA First Line: Maggie came up from spartansburg MEMO: FOR THE RACE ORATORS First Line: This nigger too should be in history %this black man amply deserves his fame MEMORIES OF SALEM (VIRGINIA) First Line: Lean pinchbeck housewives pointed their fingers MEMPHIS BLUES Poem Text First Line: Nineveh, tyre / babylon Subject(s): African Americans; Negroes; American Blacks MEMPHIS BLUES First Line: Nineveh, tyre %babylon Last Line: De win' sing sperrichals %through deir dus' Subject(s): African Americans MILL MOUNTAIN First Line: The moon is but a lantern set by some MISTER SAMUEL AND SAM First Line: Mister samuel, he belongs to rotary %sam to de sons of rest Last Line: And dey's both of 'em po' los' boys MOSE IS BLACK AND EVIL MR. DANNY First Line: Oh, danny got a goat to ride NEGRO IMPROVEMENT LEAGUE First Line: I wondered at the huge blockade NEW CONGO (WITH NO APOLOGIES TO VACHEL LINDSAY) First Line: Suave big jigs in a conference room NEW ST. LOUIS BLUES: LOW DOWN First Line: So low down bummin' cut plug from de passers by NEW ST. LOUIS BLUES: MARKET STREET WOMAN First Line: Market street woman is known fuh to have dark days Last Line: Let her git what she can git, 'fo dey lays on de coolin' board Subject(s): African Americans - Women; Jazz; Music And Musicians NEW ST. LOUIS BLUES: TORNADO BLUES First Line: Black wind come a-speedin' down da river from de kansas plains Subject(s): Tornadoes NEW STEPS NO HIDING PLACE: 1. HARLEM STOPOVER NO HIDING PLACE: 2. THE COTTON SOUTH NO HIDING PLACE: 3. DOWN IN ATLANTA NO HIDING PLACE: 4. 'ROCKS CRIED OUT.' NO HIDING PLACE: 5. ROAD TO THE LEFT NO HIDING PLACE: 6. FRILOT COVE NO HIDING PLACE: 7. WASHINGTON, D.C. NO HIDING PLACE: 8. REMEMBRANCES NO MORE WORLDS TO CONQUER First Line: My boy alec is a smart bootlegger NOUS N'IRONS PLUS AU BOIS First Line: Oh, I shall meet your friends, and chatter on ODYSSEY OF BIG BOY First Line: Lemme be wid casey jones Last Line: Lemme be wid ole jazzbo OLD KING COTTON OLD LEM Poem Text First Line: I talked to old lem Last Line: "but they come by tens." Subject(s): Racism; Racial Prejudice; Bigotry OLD MAN BUZZARD OLD WOMAN REMEMBERS First Line: Her eyes were gentle; her voice was for soft singing Last Line: And then %there wasn't any riot any more.' ONE WAY OF TAKING LEAVE First Line: We knew, the coming day would see us parted PARDNERS First Line: Jim never had no luck wid de women PARISH DOCTOR First Line: They come to him for subscriptions PUTTIN' ON DOG First Line: Look at old scrappy puttin' on dog RAIN First Line: Outside the cold, cold night; the dripping rain RAISE A SONG First Line: Remember %how on the reeking schooner REAL MAMMY SONG First Line: Mammy %sun shine east, sun shines west REMEMBERING NAT TURNER Poem Text First Line: We saw a bloody sunset over courtland, once jerusalem Last Line: The marker split for kindling a kitchen fire. Subject(s): African Americans; Jerusalem; Slavery; Turner, Nat (1800-1831); Negroes; American Blacks; Serfs RENT DAY BLUES First Line: I says to my baby Last Line: Fo' a devilish good reason why RETURN First Line: I have gone back in boyish wonderment REVELATIONS First Line: I shall recall %as a sinister omen RIVERBANK BLUES First Line: A man git his feet set in a sticky mudbank ROBERTA LEE First Line: A lee of lewisburg in this place RUMINATIONS OF LUKE JOHNSON First Line: I got me a question SALUTAMUS First Line: The bitterness of days like these we know SAM SMILEY First Line: The whites had taught him how to rip Last Line: Buckdanced on the midnight air SCOTTY HAS HIS SAY First Line: Whuh folks, whuh folks; don' wuk muh brown too hahd! Last Line: Who's practisin' de chahlston in yo' big backyahd SEEKING RELIGION First Line: Lulu walked forlornly in late april twilight SHARECROPPERS First Line: When they rode up at first dark and called his name Last Line: Plant de white-oak and de black-oak side by side.' SIDE BE SIDE First Line: Listen, johncracker; hear me, joe nigg SISTER LOU Poem Text First Line: Honey Last Line: Honey, take yo' bressed time. Subject(s): African Americans; Death; Railroads; Negroes; American Blacks; Dead, The; Railways; Trains SLIM GREER First Line: Listen to the tale %of ole slim greer Last Line: You'se a leetle too dumb, %fo' to stay up here Variant Title(s): Slim In Hel Subject(s): African Americans SLIM HEARS 'THE CALL' First Line: Down at the barbershop %slim had the floor Last Line: Ef de cap fits you, brother, %put it on SLIM IN ATLANTA First Line: Down in atlanta / de whitefolks got laws Subject(s): Atlanta, Georgia SLIM IN ATLANTA First Line: Down in atlanta %de whitefolks got laws Last Line: Den, things was as usural %in atlanta, gee a Subject(s): Atlanta, Georgia SLIM LANDS A JOB First Line: Poppa greer happened %down arkansaw way SONG OF TRIUMPH First Line: Let the band play dixie SOUTHERN COP First Line: Let us forgive ty kendricks Last Line: And the dying negro moan Subject(s): African Americans; Murder SOUTHERN ROAD Poem Text First Line: Swing dat hammer - hunh - / steady, bo' Subject(s): African Americans; Roads; Southern States; Negroes; American Blacks; Paths; Trails; South (u.s.) SOUTHERN ROAD First Line: Swing dat hammer - hunh - %steady, bo' Last Line: Let me go; %po' los' boy, bebby, %evahmo... Subject(s): African Americans; Roads; Southern States SPORTING BEASLEY First Line: Good glory, give a look at sporting beasley Last Line: Let him have his spats and cane STRANGE LEGACIES First Line: One thing you left with us, jack johnson Last Line: Guess we'll give it one mo' try. %guess we'll give it one mo' try' STREET CAR GANG First Line: For the bread for the children STRONG MEN Poem Text First Line: They dragged you from the homeland Subject(s): African Americans; Racism; Slavery; Social Protest; Strength; Negroes; American Blacks; Racial Prejudice; Bigotry; Serfs STRONG MEN First Line: They dragged you from the homeland Last Line: The strong men gittin' stronger %strong men %stronger Subject(s): African Americans; Racism; Slavery; Social Protest; Strength TELLING FORTUNES First Line: Oh you were quite the gypsy on that night Subject(s): Fortune Tellers TEMPLE First Line: The orator finished his eulogy THOUGHTS OF DEATH / CROWD OVER MY HAPPINESS TIN ROOF BLUES First Line: I'm goin' where de southern crosses top de c. & o Last Line: I'm goin' where de shingles covers people mo' my kind Subject(s): African Americans; Southern States TO A CERTAIN LADY, IN HER GARDEN First Line: Lady, my lady, come from out the garden TO SALLY, WALKING First Line: Your vividness grants collor where Last Line: Thread the dull thoroughfare Subject(s): Alphabet Verse TRANSFER First Line: It must have been that the fellow was tongue-tied Last Line: We can stand so much, then doan stan no mo'' UNCLE JOE First Line: Hot dawg it, but it's hot-hot dis mawnin VIRGINIA PORTRAIT First Line: Winter is settling on the place; the sedge WHEN DE SAINTS GO MA'CHIN' HOME First Line: He'd play, after the bawdy songs and blues YOUNG ONES First Line: With cotton to the doorstep Last Line: Praise god from whom %all blessings flow' Subject(s): African Americans |
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