The ivory gods, And the ebony gods, And the gods of diamond and jade, Sit silently on their temple shelv… While the people

In an envelope marked: PERSONAL God addressed me a letter. In an envelope marked: PERSONAL

Big Boy came Carrying a mermaid On his shoulders And the mermaid Had her tail

I got to leave this town. It’s a lonesome place. Got to leave this town cause It’s a lonesome place. A po’, po’ boy can’t

Down in the bass That steady beat Walking walking walking Like marching feet. Down in the bass

I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh,

When the old junk man Death Comes to gather up our bodies And toss them into the sack of obl… I wonder if he will find The corpse of a white multi—millio…

My old mule, He’s gota grin on his face. He’s been a mule so long He’s forgotten about his race. I’m like that old mule —

That Justice is a blind goddess Is a thing to which we black are w… Her bandage hides two festering so… That once perhaps were eyes.