Best Negros Poems

From the grounds of the south during the sweltering summer 
of Negros in America*, came white violence and murder.  The 
suppression and degradation of decades.  Americans treated
as less then a dog because they were not of a certain color. 
For a country founded...

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I look all round me and I’m engulfed by shame 
I see people chanting freedom 
But they have nothing tangible to show they are free 
Because their freedom’s trail is unknown to them 

Shackles of apartheid still tight on their wrist
Check the net and go...

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- - - Chapter 1: Early Days - - - 

My father was a rich man, la, *
Though schooled in poverty, (1)  
As such he seldom raised his head, 
Displayed humility.
The center of the ‘Dust Bowl' years, 
Just thirty miles from home.
And children, seniors...

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Eric Mottram on the American literary and cultural scene during 1965-66 while he was the recipient of the American Learned Societies’ award for a year. (begun in the last post and to be continued)

January 2, 1966: Dear Wignesan,
        
 [...9 lines suppressed] One thing I can I’m...

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The old woman argued relentlessly, her case.
Resolute, she raved in her conviction; 
two thousand and one reasons were there for her to be mad.
Eleven was given to questioning eyes.

It was September, 
and Bernice brought home the bourgeois man, 
and the two fell 
from the pedestal
they...

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White Man’s Good Ole’ Days

I’m the law in these parts;
This here is my town son.
You better learn your place;
Listen up until I’m done.

You can’t eat at the tables;
You can’t drink at the bar.
You’re not welcome in this establishment;
Shouldn’t have gotten out of your car.

Whites only;
Can’t...

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Translation of Eric Mottram’s 1922 Section 1 by T. Wignesan

for David Attoe

Notre devise pourrait être: ‘que nous nous ne soyons pas envoûtés’
Wittgenstein in Zettel

laissez pendre   la graisse   sans cou
où la tête flotte sur les épaules
un joyau     ...

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My first amendment right was never fought for overseas! It was Martin Luther King who was beat to his knees! It was Fanne Lou Hamer who gave me permission to speak! It was a war on Sunday but only in American streets! It was four...

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Siempre soñé con llegar hacer el hombre de tu vida
Pues en ti siempre miré todo lo que yo queria
Amor, ternura, compasión e infinita alegría
Todo eso y mucho más en ti yo percibía

Pensé que podría llegar a cautivar tu corazón
Dándote lo mejor de mi sin ninguna...

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Si de pronto no existes, (If of a sudden you were no more,) 
si de pronto no vives,(if of a sudden you live no more,) 
yo seguiré viviendo. (I'll continue to live.) 

No me atrevo,(I do not dare,) 
no me atrevo a escribirlo, (hardly will...

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The Call To Justice
When the days turn sourer
And the month turns dark
With the years flinging to return no more
Only the lonely already will thrive.

When the hopes of the Negros grow faint
Buried in the bellies of men in high positions 
Who sit only for their own...

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This country 
These people 
have pushed me to this edge 
The ledge was never that stable 
My people are beat in the head with labels 
I guess that's why my condition is unstable 
Our troops who fight this war 
are battling two foes 
Amerikkka and...

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espiritu afin huyo
sin razon
embriagantes
nubes grises
bailado y entregado
el odor della lluvia
colgado alli como
un huerfano
los agujeros
negros
en el cielo
mortal
rieron en la cara
abierta un cielo
eres tan hermosa...

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WHO WILL DANCE
 All of my life
I have been searching 
As i swim across the great river
Of a faired and tinted Negros 
In all corners of the cardinal

Over and over, my heart beat
Unto my bone that lies in the valley of bones 
Every eyes seem...

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Piles of garbage; sounds of carnage they motion
Blurry images of malnourished children
Struggling for breath and bread
They evince; the struggles as we grow
-of how we ourselves are adversaries to our improvement, a hated compliment;
Of our lust for not the future but the moment

In bold they write...

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