#AmericanWriters
'Me an’ ma baby’s Got two mo’ ways, Two mo’ ways to do de Charleston!… Da, da, Da, da, da!
I work all day, Said Simple John, Myself a house to buy. I work all day, Said Simple John,
How quiet It is in this sick room Where on the bed A silent woman lies between two lo… Life and Death,
Clean the spittoons, boy. Detroit, Chicago, Atlantic City, Palm Beach.
I am God— Without one friend, Alone in my purity World without end. Below me young lovers
Because my mouth Is wide with laughter And my throat Is deep with song, You do not think
When a man starts out with nothing… When a man starts out with his han… Empty, but clean, When a man starts to build a world… He starts first with himself
Tell all my mourners To mourn in red — Cause there ain’t no sense In my bein’ dead.
Well, son, I’ll tell you: Life for me ain’t been no crystal… It’s had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up,
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…
The rent man knocked. He said, Howdy—do? I said, What Can I do for you? He said, You know
We passed their graves: The dead men there, Winners or losers, Did not care. In the dark
It was a long time ago. I have almost forgotten my dream. But it was there then, In front of me, Bright like a sun—
What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore— And then run?
Go home and write a page tonight. And let that page come out of you— Then, it will be true. I wonder if it’s that simple?