langston hughes – The Music Bard

i am trying to connect
with the roots
of the Harlem Renaissance

hey Man
i was in church
the other day
staring at the cross
pondering its meaning
reminded me somehow
of Langston Hughes
a Negro who was
neither black nor white
he wrote some poetry
one of them called “cross”
white old man
black old mother
lived and wrote
in Harlem

hey man
have you heard
Bird
on a sax
jazz…oh so truly American
do you remember the weary blues?
i love those lines:
“Coming from a black man’s soul
In a deep song voice
with a melancholy tone.”

i’m talking to you
the Negro Spirit
i’m thinking about Langston Hughes
why?

what is a Negro?
is he the essential American?
out there always finding
solace
his meaning out there
on the streets of Harlem

abstract morality

you bind together
in the village
the bronx

Harlem
you have something
in common
a lot of you believe
in the same things

live and let live

you can be happy
without becoming a millionaire
maybe you feel
like you belong there
its the general feeling

a brotherhood

awakening race
consciousness
a cultural movement
rebirth
New York City
the center of change
accomplishments of the past
created a livelihood now
an interest
in Negro life

and power to the people
it must have been insane
a revolution of thoughts
you are the roots
of possibility
and i am inspired