Page:Negro poets and their poems (IA negropoetstheirp00kerl).pdf/81

Rh that there has been in these recent years a renascence of the Negro soul. Poetry, as these pages will show, is one of its modes of expression. Other expressions there are, very significant ones, too, expressions which are material, tangible, expressible in figures. Not of this kind is poetry. Yet of all forms whereby the soul of a people expresses itself the most potent, the most effective, is poetry. The re-born soul of the Negro is following the tradition of all races in all times by pouring itself into that form of words which embodies the most of passionate thought and feeling.

Out of the very heart of a race of twelve million people amongst us comes this cry which a Negro poet of Virginia utters as

We would be peaceful, Father—but, when we must, Help us to thunder hard the blow that’s just! We would be prayerful: Lord, when we have prayed, Let us arise courageous—unafraid! We would be manly—proving well our worth, Then would not cringe to any god on earth! We would be loving and forgiving, thus To love our neighbor as Thou lovest us! We would be faithful, loyal to the Right— Ne’er doubting that the Day will follow Night!