Deep Like the Rivers

i used to wrap my white doll up in
—Mae Jackson

i used to wrap my white doll up in
an old towel
and place her upon my chest
i used to sing those funny old school songs
god bless america
my country ‘tis of thee
when i was young
and very colored

____________________

February is Black History Month. Storyteller Ratye Ridgeway will share stories, songs and poems of the Old South during a free Black History Month celebration for children ages 5-12 at the North Highlands-Antelope Library today, 4235 Antelope Rd., Antelope, 4 pm. Info: 916-264-2920.


WE WEAR THE MASK
—Paul Laurence Dunbar

We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and hides our eyes,—
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subleties.

Why should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
We wear the mask.

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask.

_______________________

FOR BLACK POETS WHO THINK OF SUICIDE
—Etheridge Knight

Black Poets should live—not leap
From steel bridges (Like the white boys do.
Black Poets should live—not lay
Their necks on railroad tracks (like the white boys do.
Black Poets should seek—but not search too much
In sweet dark caves, nor hunt for snipe
Down psychic trails (like the white boys do.

For Black Poets belong to Black People. Are
The Flutes of Black Lovers. Are
The Organs of Black Sorrows. Are
The Trumpets of Black Warriors.
Let All Black poets die as trumpets,
And be buried in the dust of marching feet.

______________________

Also today: Dance, sound, animation, artwork and poetry will be included in “Fears of Your Life: Study I,” presented by the UC Davis Dept. of Theatre and Dance, Mondavi Center, UC Davis, 8 pm. Directed by Kim Epifano in collaboration with the Axis Dance Company. $12 general, $8 students and children. Info: 530-754-2787.


THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS
—Langston Hughes
(to. W. E. B. Du Bois)

I’ve known rivers:
I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than
the flow of human blood in human veins.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.
I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.
I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe
Lincoln went down to New Orleans, and I’ve seen
its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset.

I’ve known rivers:
Ancient dusky rivers.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

______________________

(Special thanks to Elsie Feliz for today’s selection of poems.)

—Medusa

Medusa encourages poets of all ilk and ages to send their poetry and announcements of Northern California poetry events to kathykieth@hotmail.com for posting on this daily Snake blog. Rights remain with the poets. Previously-published poems are okay for Medusa’s Kitchen, as long as you own the rights. (Please cite publication.)