Paul Leroy Robeson
Prattlers, this voice on stage tenured its talents well
Acme of the art, the rare thespian my father spoke
Ubiquitously your destiny's duality, and swell
Lauding you, my head, and naught this spell broke
Lawyer, and luminary in African people's racial cause
Emigre from home tossed on controversial seas, he
Revered third of the race from Rutgers, had no pause
Overperformer in sport, in scholarship and art, free
Yielded fame for freedom liberating black hopes still
Respected in politics, honored for stagecraft and will
Oyster of our pearl, we thank Princeton for your birth
Black and brilliant son, whose shadow shade far flung
Europe and the Caribbean. How wide you stride the earth
Sensational in song and show, censored and blacklisted
Oppressed and despised too in strange minds time-twisted
None but honorable death could harm you, O great native son.
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