Page:Negro poets and their poems (IA negropoetstheirp00kerl).pdf/121

Rh is only for relative thinking we need the three terms, truth, goodness, and beauty.

I will conclude this presentation of the Missouri singer with a lyrical sermonette:

Chill the rain falls, chill! Dull gray the world; the vale Rain-swept; wind-swept the hill; “But gloom and doubt prevail,” My heart breaks forth to say. Ere thus its sorrow-note, “Cheer up! Cheer up, to-day! To-morrow is to be!” Babbled from a joyous throat, A robin’s in a mist-gray tree. Then off to keep a tryst— He preened his drabbled cloak— Doughty little optimist!— As if in answer, broke The sunlight through that oak.

Dreams and visions—such are the treasures of suffering loyal hearts: dreams, visions, and song. Happy even in their sorrows the people to whom God has given poets to be their spokesmen to the world. Else their hearts should stifle with woe. As the prophet was of old so in these times the