My old man’s a white old man And my old mother’s black. If ever I cursed my white old man I take my curses back. If ever I cursed my black old mot…

In the Quarter of the Negroes Where the doors are doors of paper Dust of dingy atoms Blows a scratchy sound. Amorphous jack—o’—Lanterns caper

Here I sit With my shoes mismated. Lawdy—mercy! I’s frustrated!

When the shoe strings break On both your shoes And you’re in a hurry— That’s the blues. When you go to buy a candy bar

Good morning, daddy! Ain’t you heard The boogie—woogie rumble Of a dream deferred? Listen closely:

Children, I come back today To tell you a story of the long da… That I had to climb, that I had t… In order that the race might live… Look at my face —dark as the night…

You say I O.K.ed LONG DISTANCE? O.K.ed it when? My goodness, Central That was then!

When you turn the corner And you run into yourself Then you know that you have turned All the corners that are left