Here is a random selection of 20th century black American poets and samples of their poems for readers as we celebrate Black History Month in February. Let us start with US poet laureate Gwendolyn Brooks (1917 – 2000). This poem (in its entirety here) can be found in many high school and college English textbooks and many poetry anthologies:<\/p>\n
We Real Cool<\/p>\n
THE POOL PLAYERS.
\nSEVEN AT THE GOLDEN SHOVEL.<\/p>\n
We real cool. We
\nLeft school. We
\nLurk late. We
\nStrike straight. We
\nSing sin. We
\nThin gin. We
\nJazz June. We
\nDie soon.<\/p>\n
Poets often write poems in homage of other poets. I include Gwendolyn Brooks\u2019 poem (also in its entirety) about African-American poet Langston Hughes (1902-1967), an early writer of \u201cjazz poetry\u201d and leader of the Harlem Renaissance, in the hope that readers will seek out and read his poetry and the poetry of others sampled here.<\/p>\n
Langston Hughes
\nis merry glory.
\nIs saltatory.
\nYet grips his right of twisting free.<\/p>\n
Has a long reach,
\nStrong speech,
\nRemedial fears,
\nMuscular tears.<\/p>\n
Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)\u2014an excerpt<\/p>\n
It may be misery not to sing at all
\nAnd to go silent through the brimming day
\nIt may be sorrow never to be loved
\nBut deeper griefs than these beset the way.<\/p>\n
His wife, Alice Moore Dunbar-Nelson (1875-1935), an excerpt<\/p>\n
Pitifully calling me, the quick ones and the slain?
\nYou need me Christ! It is no roseate dream
\nThat beckons me\u2014this pretty futile seam,
\nIt stifles me\u2014God, must I sit and sew?\u201d<\/p>\n
Claude McKay (1889-1948)\u2014an excerpt<\/p>\n
Her voice was like the sound of blended flutes
\nBlown by black players upon a picnic day,
\nShe sang and danced on gracefully and calm,
\nThe light gauze hanging loose about her form.<\/p>\n
Leroi Jones (Amiri Baraka) (1934-2014)\u2014an excerpt<\/p>\n
And now, each night I count the stars,
\nAnd each night I get the same number.
\nAnd when they will not come to be counted,
\nI count the holes they leave.<\/p>\n
There are many young black poets writing and performing in the 21st century in rap, hip-hop styles, and fusions. Many are not glorifying drugs or lacing their work with vulgar language and misogyny. There are many who are writing strong commentaries on socio-economic conditions and poignant love songs as poets have done for centuries. Teachers, read some to your students. Parents, listen to the modern poems your children are listening and dancing to.
\nI will be conducting poetry workshops and readings on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota during April 2019, National Poetry Month. Time and dates to be announced. Till then read some poetry. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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