Page:The book of American negro poetry.djvu/122

70 Where nothing but the genuine goods are shredded,— The factory where they shape new feet and meters That make poetic symbols sound like carpet beaters. I hope I'll be an eligible student, E'en tho I am no poet in a sense, But just a hot-head youth with ways imprudent,— A rustic ranting rhymer like by chance Who thinks that he can make the muses dance By beating on some poet's borrowed lyre, To win some fool's applause and please his own desire.

Perhaps they'll never know or e'en suspect That I am not a true, a genuine poet; If in the poet's colors I am decked They may not ask me e'er to prove or show it. I'll play the wise old cock, nor try to crow it, But be content to gaze with open mind; I'll never show the lead but eye things from behind.

I have a problem all alone to solve, A problem how to find the poetry club, It makes my sky piece like a top revolve, For fear that they might mark me for a snob. They'll call me poetry monger and then dub Me rustic rhymer, anything they choose, Ay, anything at all, but heaven's immortal muse.