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7/17/2019 The Harlem Renaissance--Selected Poems
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-harlem-renaissance-selected-poems 1/4
To America (James Weldon Johnson):
How would you have us, as we are?
Or sinking 'neath the load we bear?
Our eyes fixed forward on a star?
Or gazing empty at despair?
Rising or falling? en or things?
!ith dragging pa"e or footsteps fleet?
#trong, willing sinews in your wings?
Or tightening "hains about your feet?
Tableau (Countee Cullen)
$o"ked arm in arm they "ross the way
%he bla"k boy and the white,
%he golden splendor of the day
%he sable pride of night&
rom lowered blinds the dark folk stare
(nd here the fair folk talk,
)ndignant that these two should dare
)n unison to walk&
Oblivious to look and word%hey pass, and see no wonder
%hat lightning brilliant as a sword
#hould blaze the path of thunder&
7/17/2019 The Harlem Renaissance--Selected Poems
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)n"ident *+ountee +ullen
On"e riding in old -altimore,
Heart.filled, head.filled with glee/
) saw a -altimorean
0eep looking straight at me&
1ow ) was eight and very small,
(nd he was no whit bigger,
(nd so ) smiled, but he poked out
His tongue, and "alled me, 23333&2
) saw the whole of -altimore
rom ay until 4e"ember/
Of all the things that happened there
%hat's all that ) remember&
7/17/2019 The Harlem Renaissance--Selected Poems
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!hite Houses *+laude "0ay:
5our door is shut against my tightened fa"e,
(nd ) am sharp as steel with dis"ontent/
-ut ) possess the "ourage and the gra"e
%o bear my anger proudly and unbent&
%he pavement slabs burn loose beneath my feet,
(nd passion rends my vitals as ) pass,
( "hafing savage, down the de"ent street/
!here boldly shines your shuttered door of glass&
Oh, ) must sear"h for wisdom every hour,
4eep in my wrathful bosom sore and raw,
(nd find in it the superhuman power