Tag: african

“Bars Fight”

by Lucy Terry
(1733 – 1821)

August ’twas the twenty-fifth,
Seventeen hundred forty-six;
The Indians did in ambush lay,
Some very valiant men to slay,
The names of whom I’ll not leave out.
Samuel Allen like a hero fout,
And though he was so brave and bold,
His face no more shalt we behold
Eteazer Hawks was killed outright,
Before he had time to fight, –
Before he did the Indians see,
Was shot and killed immediately.
Oliver Amsden he was slain,
Which caused his friends much grief and pain.
Simeon Amsden they found dead,
Not many rods distant from his head.
Adonijah Gillett we do hear
Did lose his life which was so dear.
John Sadler fled across the water,
And thus escaped the dreadful slaughter.
Eunice Allen see the Indians coming,
And hopes to save herself by running,
And had not her petticoats stopped her,
The awful creatures had not catched her,
Nor tommy hawked her on the head,
And left her on the ground for dead.
Young Samuel Allen, Oh lack-a-day!
Was taken and carried to Canada.

Tags african, african american literature, African American poet, America, American Literature, American poetry, art, Arts, Bars Fight, black history month, Black Poetry, Canada, Literature, Lucy Terry, poems, poet, Poetry, women poets

American American Poetry Black History General History Phillis Wheatley poet Poetry Religion and Spirituality Uncategorized United States women women poets

On Being Brought from Africa to America

Post author By TDarris
Post date February 2, 2022
No Comments on On Being Brought from Africa to America

by Phillis Wheatley

Listen to “On Being Brought from Africa to America” by Phillis Wheatley

‘Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,
Taught my benighted soul to understand
That there’s a God, that there’s a Saviour too:
Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.
Some view our sable race with scornful eye,
“Their colour is a diabolic die.”
Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain,
May be refin’d, and join th’ angelic train.

This poem is in the public domain.

Reprinted in “The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa, the African”

African-American Black History Life Literature Poetry Uncategorized United States

“I Have a Rendevous With Life” by Countee Cullen (1903 – 1946)

Post author By TDarris
Post date May 2, 2017
No Comments on “I Have a Rendevous With Life” by Countee Cullen (1903 – 1946)

I have a rendezvous with Life,
In days I hope will come,
Ere youth has sped, and strength of mind,
Ere voices sweet grow dumb.
I have a rendezvous with Life,
When Spring’s first heralds hum.
Sure some would cry it’s better far
To crown their days with sleep
Than face the road, the wind and rain,
To heed the calling deep.
Though wet nor blow nor space I fear,
Yet fear I deeply, too,
Lest Death should meet and claim me ere
I keep Life’s rendezvous.

Tags african, African-American, America, Black, blackpoet, blackpoetry, countee, countee cullen, cullen, goodpoetry, life, living, nature, poetryisnotdead, poetrysociety, season, seasons, spring

19th century African-American America American American Poetry Black History Celebration Harlem Renaissance Hope James Weldon Johnson Poetry Reflect Uncategorized United States

“The Gift to Sing” by James Weldon Johnson (1871 – 1938)

Post author By TDarris
Post date June 29, 2016
No Comments on “The Gift to Sing” by James Weldon Johnson (1871 – 1938)

Sometimes the mist overhangs my path,
And blackening clouds about me cling;
But, oh, I have a magic way
To turn the gloom to cheerful day—
I softly sing.

And if the way grows darker still,
Shadowed by Sorrow’s somber wing,
With glad defiance in my throat,
I pierce the darkness with a note,
And sing, and sing.

I brood not over the broken past,
Nor dread whatever time may bring;
No nights are dark, no days are long,
While in my heart there swells a song,
And I can sing.

Tags #read, #reading, 19th century, 20th century, african, african american history, African American poet, african american slavery, African-American, African-American Literature, African-American Poetry, african-cuban, africana, America, american, american history, American Literature, american poet, American poetry, american slave, americana, anthology, art, Arts, Black, Black History, black history month, black literature, black music, Black Poet, Black Poetry, Black Poety, civil right, civil rights, countee cullen, cullen, Freedom, harlem, Harlem Renaissance, harvard, History, history & politics, hughes, hymn, iamb, jim crow, Langston Hughes, lift ev'ry voice and sing, literary, Literature, man, Memory, men, music, nature, negro, negro spiritual, negroes, negros, pentameter, poem, poet, poetic, poetics, Poetry, poetry book, poetry books, poetry community, poetry reading, poetry society, Poets, poettrisnotdead, readers, reconstruction, refelct, reflection, reflections, reflects, renaissance, Rhyme, rhymed stanza, rhythm, sing, slave, song, songs, spiritual, thought, thoughts, time, United States, west, western, Write, Writer, writers, writing

American Cuba Cuban Poetry Uncategorized

“Puente” by Nicolás Guillén (1920 – 1989)

Post author By TDarris
Post date April 19, 2016
No Comments on “Puente” by Nicolás Guillén (1920 – 1989)

PUENTE

¿Lejos?

Hay un arco tendido
que hace viajar la flecha
de tu voz.

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