Page:Negro poets and their poems (IA negropoetstheirp00kerl).pdf/122

100 poet. As a prophet speaks Fenton Johnson, his heart yearning toward the black folk of our land:

These are my people, I have built for them A castle in the cloister of my heart; And I shall fight that they may dwell therein. The God that gave Sojourner tongue of fire Has made with me a righteous covenant That these, my brothers of the dusk, shall rise To Sinai and thence in purple walk A newer Canaan, vineyards of the West. The rods that chasten us shall break as straw And fire consume the godless in the South; The hand that struck the helpless of my race Shall wither as a leaf in drear November, And liberty, the nectar God has blest, Shall flow as free as wine in Babylon. O God of Covenants, forget us not!

Fenton Johnson seems to be more deeply rooted in the song-traditions of his people than are most of his fellow-poets. To him the classic Spirituals afford inspiration and pattern. Whoever is familiar with those “canticles of love and woe” will recognize their influence throughout Mr. Johnson’s three volumes of song. I shall make no attempt here to illustrate this truth but shall rather select a piece or two that will represent the poet’s general qualities. Other poems more typical of him as a melodist could be found but these have special traits that commend them for this place.