Section: «Poems»
Verse (ancient Greek ὁ στίχος — row, structure), a term in versification used in several meanings:
artistic speech organized by division into rhythmically commensurate segments; poetry in the narrow sense; in particular, it implies the properties of versification of a particular tradition ("antique verse", "Akhmatova's verse", etc.);
a line of poetic text organized according to a certain rhythmic pattern ("My uncle of the most honest rules").
A Nation Remembers
Today the stars shine soft and clear,For those we hold forever dear.The brave who stood, who did not fall,In heart and soul — they gave their all.The..
© Memorial Day
For Every Soldier’s Name
For every soldier’s name we call,There echoes freedom — strong and tall.Their stories written in the sand,Their courage carved across the land.They..
© Memorial Day
The Silent March
Along the fields of endless green,Where only ghosts of war are seen,The silence hums, the shadows play,It’s there we bow this solemn day.They marched..
© Memorial Day
Heroes Never Die
They say a hero’s never gone,Their light lives on when dawn is drawn.Through whispered winds and morning dew,Their strength remains in me and..
© Memorial Day
The Price of Freedom
Beneath the sky of red and blue,The flag waves proud, the hearts are true.Across the hills, through winds that cry,Brave souls still sleep where..
© Memorial Day
To Horace Bumstead
Have you been sore discouraged in the fight,And even sometimes weighted by the thoughtThat those with whom and those for whom you foughtLagged far..
© James Weldon Johnson
Voluptas
To chase a never-reached mirageAcross the hot, white sand,And choke and die, while gazing onIts green and watered strand.
© James Weldon Johnson
Possum Song
(A Warning)'Simmons ripenin' in de fall,You better run,Brudder 'Possum, run!Mockin' bird commence to call,You better run, Brudder 'Possum, git out de..
© James Weldon Johnson
Venus In The Garden
'Twas at early morning,The dawn was blushing in her purple bed,When in a sweet, embowered gardenShe, the fairest of the goddesses,The lovely..
© James Weldon Johnson
Vashti
I sometimes take you in my dreams to a far-off land I used to know,Back in the ages long ago; a land of palms and languid streams.A land, by night..
© James Weldon Johnson
Nobody's Lookin' But De Owl An' De Moon
(A Negro Serenade)De river is a-glistenin' in de moonlight,De owl is set'n high up in de tree;De little stars am twinklin' wid a sof' light,De night..
© James Weldon Johnson
Ma Lady's Lips Am Like De Honey
(Negro Love Song)Breeze a-sighin' and a-blowin',Southern summer night.Stars a-gleamin' and a-glowin',Moon jes shinin' right.Strollin', like all..
© James Weldon Johnson
The Temptress
Old Devil, when you come with horns and tail,With diabolic grin and crafty leer;I say, such bogey-man devices wholly failTo waken in my heart a..
© James Weldon Johnson
O Southland!
O Southland! O Southland!Have you not heard the call,The trumpet blown, the word made knownTo the nations, one and all?The watchword, the..
© James Weldon Johnson
Omar
Old Omar, jolly sceptic, it may beThat, after all, you found the magic keyTo life and all its mystery, and IMust own you have almost persuaded me.
© James Weldon Johnson
Sleep
O Sleep, thou kindest minister to man,Silent distiller of the balm of rest,How wonderful thy power, when naught else can,To soothe the torn and..
© James Weldon Johnson
The Ghost Of Deacon Brown
In a backwoods townLived Deacon Brown,And he was a miser old;He would trust no bank,So he dug, and sankIn the ground a box of gold,Down deep in the..
© James Weldon Johnson
Sonnet
My heart be brave, and do not falter so,Nor utter more that deep, despairing wail.Thy way is very dark and drear I know,But do not let thy strength..
© James Weldon Johnson
Life
Out of the infinite sea of eternityTo climb, and for an instant standUpon an island speck of time.From the impassible peace of the darknessTo wake..
© James Weldon Johnson
The Seasons
W'en de leaves begin to fall,An' de fros' is on de ground,An' de 'simmons is a-ripenin' on de tree;W'en I heah de dinner call,An' de chillen gadder..
© James Weldon Johnson
The Glory Of The Day Was In Her Face
The glory of the day was in her face,The beauty of the night was in her eyes.And over all her loveliness, the graceOf Morning blushing in the early..
© James Weldon Johnson
The Young Warrior
Mother, shed no mournful tears,But gird me on my sword;And give no utterance to thy fears,But bless me with thy word.The lines are drawn! The fight..
© James Weldon Johnson
The Suicide
For fifty years,Cruel, insatiable Old World.You have punched me over the heartTill you made me cough blood.The few paltry things I gatheredYou..
© James Weldon Johnson
The Color Sergeant
(On an Incident at the Battle of San Juan Hill)Under a burning tropic sun,With comrades around him lying,A trooper of the sable TenthLay wounded..
© James Weldon Johnson
You's Sweet To Yo' Mammy De Same
(Lullaby)Shet yo' eyes, ma little pickaninny, go to sleepMammy's watchin' by you all de w'ile;Daddy is a-wukin' down in de cott'n fiel',Wukin' fu'..
© James Weldon Johnson