Page:Negro poets and their poems (IA negropoetstheirp00kerl).pdf/277

Rh the variety of themes and emotional responses in this body of contemporary verse.

The first selection hardly needs any allowance to be made for it, I think, on the score that it was written by a girl only sixteen years of age:

’Tis Christmas time! ’Tis Christmas time! Dear hallowed name of every clime! How each one’s heart now happy feels, How each one’s face fresh joy reveals As Christmas Day is drawing near The merriest day of all the year! Old spite and hate, the scowl, the sneer Are vanquished, all, by kindly cheer, And friendships nigh forgot and cold Glow warm again as once of old. Man’s worries cease, his hope returns, His breast with love now brighter burns; So, Christmas cheer! Oh, Christmas cheer! A hearty welcome to you here. A welcome through the world where trod The source of joy, the Son of God, The Lowly One who from above First warmed cold earth with gladsome love: Who still proclaims with golden voice, “Peace on earth! Rejoice! Rejoice!” Corinne E. Lewis.

If the reader is disposed to make comparisons he might recall, without very great detriment to