Showing posts with label Henry Ossawa Tanner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Henry Ossawa Tanner. Show all posts

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Keeping On

Thankful Poor  Henry Ossawa Tanner
Mother to Son 
by Langston Hughes
Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor--”
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So, boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps.
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now--”
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

A Little Night Music

The Banjo Lesson  Henry Ossawa Tanner 

Dream Variations 

by Langston Hughes
To fling my arms wide
In some place of the sun,
To whirl and to dance
Till the white day is done.
Then rest at cool evening
Beneath a tall tree
While night comes on gently,
Dark like me-
That is my dream!

To fling my arms wide
In the face of the sun,
Dance! Whirl! Whirl!
Till the quick day is done.
Rest at pale evening...
A tall, slim tree...
Night coming tenderly
Black like me.