Raymond Garfield Dandridge

Raymond Garfield Dandridge Poems

Black brother, think you life so sweet
That you would live at any price?
Does mere existence balance with
The weight of your great sacrifice?
...

True I am black not by my will;
I had no choice of hue,
And none was given you.
By His decree our roles we fill.
...

The skies are hung with sullen clouds,
A fine mist chills the air,
And earth is wrapt in heavy shrouds
Of stillness and despair.
...

You say 'That man was made to mourn.'
Would you have me believe it—
Believe earth holds no recompense
...

Mah ruddah's brokin, an' mah sail
Wen' ovah bode, in las' night's gale;
Mah bunkah's empty, steam am low,
...

Some men go beyond their way
To advertise, in bold display,
The knowledge of the favors they may lend.
Yet, I find one who, if he might,
...

7.

Arise! ye humble undertrodden wight,
Behold, at edge of yonder east,
The blazing Sun of Hope adawn!
Think ye not thou needst ever be
...

The night winds drone, in mournful lay,
A solemn requiem o'er the dead.
Lamented Hope of yesterday,
Was there naught you could will instead—
...

Learned Sages,
Scan these pages,
Recognize the wealth they hold!
All those places,
...

Prejudice with venom smote every word and act;
Snuffed was the light of knowledge from your view.
Unbefriended martyr, sole object of attack,
...

My Harvah rit me week fo' las',
Dat is, dat's w'en I got it;
He sed, he hardly had de time
'Tween shot an' shell to jot it;
...

Reflecting ragged
Flecks of white,
Upon a background blue,
...

Sis Hannah May Liza, so Emphraim sayed,
Stole out 'neaf a sycamo' tree an' prayed
To de Lawd in Hebbin, an' she ast dat He
...

14.

Though many are the dreams I dream,
They're born within a single theme.
The same kind voice I ever hear,
Instilling faith, upbraiding fear:
...

Sweet singer, how I envy you,
Faint, fleeting, speck 'gainst azure hue.
You have gone up to chant your lay,
While I must be content to stay
...

Cannibalistic vulture,
Grown fat upon your brother's blood,
The Tide you do not seek to stem
Engulfs you in its flood.
...

Dutiful, underpaid bearer of burden
(Although as oxen your past roles were cast,
And dark the stage whereon your scene was set)
...

Through ages down Time's ceaseless span,
An endless, vivid caravan,
His mem'ry wends to ever be
An inspiration to the Free.
...

No doubt dat you lak to know jes whut wuz ailin' us,
Why me and Maffew Pleasen'view had dat tremandus fuss;
...

You sez dat ole frens am de best.
I begs yore pawden, deed I do,
Kaze I think he is mighty blest
Who hab a true fren, ole or new.
...

The Best Poem Of Raymond Garfield Dandridge

Time To Die

Black brother, think you life so sweet
That you would live at any price?
Does mere existence balance with
The weight of your great sacrifice?
Or can it be you fear the grave
Enough to live and die a slave?
O Brother! be it better said,
When you are gone and tears are shed,
That your death was the stepping stone
Your children's children cross'd upon.
Men have died that men might live:
Look every foeman in the eye!
If necessary, your life give
For something, ere in vain you die.

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