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Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes

Madam's Past History

My name is Johnson—
Madam Alberta K.
The Madam stands for business.
I’m smart that way.
 
I had a
HAIR—DRESSING PARLOR
Before
The depression put
The prices lower.
 
Then I had a
BARBECUE STAND
Till I got mixed up
With a no—good man.
 
Cause I had a insurance
The WPA
Said, We can’t use you
Wealthy that way.
 
I said,
DON’T WORRY 'BOUT ME!
Just like the song,
You WPA folks take care of yourself—
And I’ll get along.
 
I do cooking,
Day’s work, too!
Alberta K. Johnson—
Madam to you.

#Americans #Blacks

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Altre opere di Langston Hughes...
Negro Dancers

'Me an’ ma baby’s Got two mo’ ways, Two mo’ ways to do de Charleston!… Da, da, Da, da, da!
Bouquet

Gather quickly Out of darkness All the songs you know And throw them at the sun Before they melt
Pierrot

I work all day, Said Simple John, Myself a house to buy. I work all day, Said Simple John,
Juke Box Love Song

I could take the Harlem night and wrap around you, Take the neon lights and make a cr… Take the Lenox Avenue busses, Taxis, subways,
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
Jazzonia

Oh, silver tree! Oh, shining rivers of the soul! In a Harlem cabaret Six long—headed jazzers play. A dancing girl whose eyes are bold
 1
Harlem Sweeties

Have you dug the spill Of Sugar Hill? Cast your gims On this sepia thrill: Brown sugar lassie,
 2
Deceased

Harlem Sent him home in a long box— Too dead To know why:
Wealth

From Christ to Ghandi Appears this truth— St. Francis of Assisi Proves it, too: Goodness becomes grandeur
Snake

He glides so swiftly Back into the grass— Gives me the courtesy of road To let me pass, That I am half ashamed
 1
The Fourth Estate, by Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo
Oppression

Now dreams Are not available To the dreamers, Nor songs To the singers.
 1
My People

The night is beautiful, So the faces of my people. The stars are beautiful, So the eyes of my people. Beautiful, also, is the sun.
 2
Fire-Caught

The gold moth did not love him So, gorgeous, she flew away. But the gray moth circled the flam… Until the break of day. And then, with wings like a dead d…
To Artina

I will take you heart. I will take your soul out of your… As though I were God. I will not be satisfied With the touch of your hand
Enemy

It would be nice In any case, To someday meet you Face to face Walking down



Alto