Poems List
Explore poems from our collection
Problems
Problems
2 and 2 are 4.
4 and 4 are 8.
But what would happen
If the last 4 was late?
And how would it be …
Po' Boy Blues
Po' Boy Blues
When I was home de
Sunshine seemed like gold.
When I was home de
Sunshine seemed like gold.
Since I come up North d…
Personal
Personal
In an envelope marked:
PERSONAL
God addressed me a letter.
In an envelope marked:
PERSONAL
I have given …
Oppression
Oppression
Now dreams
Are not available
To the dreamers,
Nor songs
To the singers.
In some lands
…
My People
My People
The night is beautiful,
So the faces of my people.
The stars are beautiful,
So the eyes of my people.
<…
Negro Speaks of Rivers
Negro Speaks of Rivers
I've known rivers:
I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the
flow of human blood in human veins
Mother to Son
Mother to Son
Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards …
Minstrel Man
Minstrel Man
Because my mouth
Is wide with laughter
And my throat
Is deep with song,
You do not think
I suffer after
Madam and The Rent Man
Madam and The Rent Man
The rent man knocked.
He said, Howdy-do?
I said, What
Can I do for you?
He said, You know
Your ren…
Me And The Mule
Me And The Mule
My old mule,
He's gota grin on his face.
He's been a mule so long
He's forgotten about his race.
…
Madam and the Census Man
Madam and the Census Man
The census man,
The day he came round,
Wanted my name
To put it down.
I said, Johnson, <…
Love Song for Lucinda
Love Song for Lucinda
Love
Is a ripe plum
Growing on a purple tree.
Taste it once
And the spell of its enchantment
Will n…
Let America be America Again
Let America be America Again
Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.
Let it be the pioneer on the plain
Seeking …
Lincoln Monument: Washington
Lincoln Monument: Washington
Let's go see Old Abe
Sitting in the marble and the moonlight,
Sitting lonely in the marble and the moonlight,
…
Juke Box Love Song
Juke Box Love Song
I could take the Harlem night
and wrap around you,
Take the neon lights and make a crown,
Take the Lenox Avenue busses…
In Time Of Silver Rain
In Time Of Silver Rain
In time of silver rain
The earth puts forth new life again,
Green grasses grow
And flowers lift their heads,
I Dream A World
I Dream A World
I dream a world where man
No other man will scorn,
Where love will bless the earth
And peace its paths adorn
I dr…
Helen Keller
Helen Keller
She,
In the dark,
Found light
Brighter than many ever see.
She,
Within herself,
Found loveliness,
Gods
Gods
The ivory gods,
And the ebony gods,
And the gods of diamond and jade,
Sit silently on their temple shelves
While the…
For Selma
For Selma
In places like
Selma, Alabama,
Kids say,
In places like
Chicago and New York...
In places like
Chicago …
Enemy
Enemy
It would be nice
In any case,
To someday meet you
Face to face
Walking down
The road to hell...
As …
Final Curve
Final Curve
When you turn the corner
And you run into yourself
Then you know that you have turned
All the corners that are left
Dream Boogie
Dream Boogie
Good morning, daddy!
Ain't you heard
The boogie-woogie rumble
Of a dream deferred?
Listen closely: <…
Dreams
Dreams
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
Fo…