Hughes, Langston

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the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.</b></div> <div> <B>I looked up on the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.</b></div> <div> <B>I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans,</b></div> <div> <B>and I've seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset.</b></div> <div> <B>I've known rivers:</b></div> <div> <B>Ancient, dusky ruvers.</b></div> <div> <B>My soul has grown deep like the rivers.</b></div> <bR> <div> --------------------------------------------------------------</div> <bR> <div> <B>MOTHER TO SON</b></div> <bR> <div> <B>Well, son, I'll tell you:</b></div> <div> <B>Life for me ain't been no crystal stair. </b></div> <div> <B>It's had tacks in it, </b></div> <div> <B>And splinters, </b></div> <div> <B>And boards torn up, </b></div> <div> <B>And places with no carpet on the floor</b></div> <div> <B>- - - Bare. </b></div> <div> <B>But all the time </b></div> <div> <B>I'se been a - climbin' on </b></div> <div> <B>And reachin' landin's, </b></div> <div> <B>And turnin' corners, </b></div> <div> <B>And sometimes goin' in the dark </b></div> <div> <B>Where there ain't been no light. </b></div> <div> <B>So boy, don't you turn back. </b></div> <div> <B>Don't you set down on the steps</b></div> <div> <B>'Cause you find it's kinder hard. </b></div> <div> <B>Don't you fall now - - - </b></div> <div> <B>For I'se still goin' honey,</b></div> <div> <B>I'se still climbin', </b></div> <div> <B>And life for me ain't been no crystal stair. </b></div> <bR> <div> ------------------------------------------------------------------</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Weary Blues</b></div> <bR> <div> <B>Droning a drowsy syncopated tune, </b></div> <div> <B>Rocking back and forth to a mellow croon, </b></div> <div> <B>I heard a Negro play. </b></div> <div> <B>Down on Lenox Avenue the other night </b></div> <div> <B>By the pale dull pallor of an old gas light </b></div> <div> <B>He did a lazy sway.... </b></div> <div> <B>He did a lazy sway....</b></div> <div> <B>To the tune o' those Weary Blues. </b></div> <div> <B>With his ebony hands on each ivory key </b></div> <div> <B>He made that poor piano moan with melody. </b></div> <div> <B>O Blues! </b></div> <div> <B>Swaying to and fro on his rickety stool </b></div> <div> <B>He played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool. </b></div> <div> <B>Sweet Blues! </b></div> <div> <B>Coming from a black man's soul. </b></div> <div> <B>O Blues! </b></div> <div> <B>In a deep song voice with a melancholy tone</b></div> <div> <B>I heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan--</b></div> <div> <B>"Ain't got nobody ain all this world, </b></div> <div> <B>Ain't got nobody but ma self.</b></div> <div> <B>I's gwine to quit ma frownin' </b></div> <div> <B>And put ma troubles on the shelf." </b></div> <div> <B>Thump, thump, thump, went his foot on the floor. </b></div> <div> <B>He played a few chords then he sang some more-- </b></div> <div> <B>"I got the Weary Blues </b></div> <div> <B>And I can't be satisfied. </b></div> <div> <B>Got the Weary Blues </b></div> <div> <B>And can't be satisfied--</b></div> <div> <B>I ain't happy no mo' </b></div> <div> <B>And I wish that I had died."</b></div> <div> <B>And far into the night he crooned that tune. </b></div> <div> <B>The stars went out and so did the moon.</b></div> <div> <B>The singer stopped playing and went to bed </b></div> <div> <B>While the Weary Blues echoed through his head. </b></div> <div> <B>He slept like a rock or a man that's dead. </b></div> <bR> <div> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div> <bR> <div> <B>Life is Fine </b></div> <bR> <div> <B>I went down to the river,</b></div> <div> <B>I set down on the bank. </b></div> <div> <B>I tried to think but couldn't, </b></div> <div> <B>So I jumped in and sank.</b></div> <div> <B>I came up once and hollered! </b></div> <div> <B>I came up twice and cried! </b></div> <div> <B>If that water hadn't a-been so cold</b></div> <div> <B>I might've sunk and died. </b></div> <div> <B>But it was Cold in that water! It was cold! </b></div> <div> <B>I took the elevator </b></div> <div> <B>Sixteen floors above the ground. </b></div> <div> <B>I thought about my baby </b></div> <div> <B>And thought I would jump down. </b></div> <div> <B>I stood there and I hollered! </b></div> <div> <B>I stood there and I cried! </b></div> <div> <B>If it hadn't a-been so high</b></div> <div> <B>I might've jumped and died. </b></div> <div> <B>But it was High up there! It was high! </b></div> <div> <B>So since I'm still here livin',</b></div> <div> <B>I guess I will live on. </b></div> <div> <B>I could've died for love-- </b></div> <div> <B>But for livin' I was born </b></div> <div> <B>Though you may hear me holler, </b></div> <div> <B>And you may see me cry-- </b></div> <div> <B>I'll be dogged, sweet baby, </b></div> <div> <B>If you gonna see me die.</b></div> <div> <B>Life is fine! Fine as wine! Life is fine!</b></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>