Outside, the sun arises from its cradle in the tree-tops of the forest. Shadows of pines are dreams the sun shakes from its eyes. The sun arises. Gold-glowing child, it steps into the sky and sends a birth-song slanting down gray dust streets and sleepy windows of the southern town. – Jean Toomer, from “Kabnis,”… Continue reading Jean Toomer
What can you seek nowTo make your heart still sing? — Langston Hughes, from “Old Age,” The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes (Knopf; 1 edition November 15, 1994)
The calm,Cool face of the riverAsked me for a kiss. —Langston Hughes, “Suicide’s Note,” Selected Poems of Langston Hughes. (Vintage; 6th edition September 12, 1990) Originally published 1959.
Go spill your beauty on the laughing faces Of happy flowers that bloom a thousand hues, Waiting on tiptoe in the wilding spaces, To drink your wine mixed with sweet drafts of dews. — Claude McKay, from “A Song of the Moon.” Complete Poems. (University of Illinois Press; annotated edition edition June 18, 2008)
I would liken you To a night without stars Were it not for your eyes. I would liken you To a sleep without dreams Were it not for your songs. — Langston Hughes, “Quiet Girl,” The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes (First Vintage Classic, 1995)
Hold fast to dreams, For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird, That cannot fly. — Langston Hughes, from “Dreams,” The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes. (Vintage; 1st Vintage classics ed edition, October 31, 1995) Originally published November 15th 1994.
ever been kidnapped by a poet if i were a poet i’d kidnap you put you in my phrases and meter you to jones beach or maybe coney island or maybe just to my house lyric you in lilacs dash you in the rain blend into the beach to complement my see play the lyre… Continue reading Nikki Giovanni
we used to talk all night and do things alone together and i’ve begun (as a reaction to a feeling) to balance the pleasure of loneliness against the pain of loving you — Nikki Giovanni, from “Balances,” Love Poems. (William Morrow; 1 edition February 14, 1997)
With its leaves so rich and heavy with elation and its crimson face made brighter with visions of divinity the shadow of a certain rose looks just like an angel eating light. ― Aberjhani, Visions of a Skylark Dressed in Black. (Black Skylark Singing and Lulu; 1st edition July 24, 2012)
Your lips betray the secret of your soul, The dark delicious essence that is you, A mystery of life, the flaming goal I seek through mazy pathways strange and new. — Claude McKay, from “A Red Flower,” Complete Poems. (University of Illinois Press January 23, 2004)
The Vale of Soul-Making 