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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&

The Harlem Renaissance--Selected Poems

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7/17/2019 The Harlem Renaissance--Selected Poems

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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

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%o hold me to the letter of your law6

Oh, ) must keep my heart inviolate

 (gainst the potent poison of your hate&