Sometimes I wish the public were equally aware of the men of our race in the cultural fields. You, for instance, have you ever bought a book by a Negro writer?
A dog gets lonesome just like a human. He wants to associate with other dogs, but when they take him out, the poor dog is on a leash and cannot run around.
The rhythm of life is a jazz rhythm.
Let the rain sing you a lullaby.
I do not want no pretty woman. First thing you know, you fall in love with her-then you got to kill somebody about her. She’ll make you so jealous, you’ll bust!
But there are certain very practical things American Negro writers can do. And must do. There’s a song that says, “the time ain’t long.” That song is right. Something has got to change in America-and change soon. We must help that change to come.
I’ve been scared and battered. My hopes the wind done scattered. Snow has friz me, Sun has baked me, Looks like between ‘em they done Tried to make me Stop laughin’, stop lovin’, stop livin’ – But I don’t care! I’m still here!
Don’t come giving me, who’s old enough to die and too near blind to create anything any more anyhow, a great big banquet that you eat up in honor of your own stomachs as much as in honor of me- who’s toothless and can’t eat.
Yet the ivory gods, And the ebony gods, And the gods of diamond-jade, Are only silly puppet gods That people themselves Have made.-.
Cheap little rhymes A cheap little tune Are sometimes as dangerous As a sliver of the moon.
Life dosent frighten me at all.
There is no color line in death.
I’ve known rivers: I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins. My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
Most musicians remain poor. But the music that they make, even if it does not bring them millions, gives millions of people happiness.
Though you may hear me holler, And you may see me cry – I’ll be dogged, sweet baby, If you gonna see me die.
Pleasured equally In seeking as in finding, Each detail minding, Old Walt went seeking And finding.
Looks like what drives me crazy Don’t have no effect on you – But I’m gonna keep on at it Till it drives you crazy, too.
Out of love, No regrets – Though the goodness Be wasted forever. Out of love, No regrets – Though the return Be never.
Lawrence has a wonderful hill in it, with a university on top and the first time I ran away from home, I ran up the hill and looked across the world: Kansas wheat fields and the Kaw River, and I wanted to go some place, too. I got a whipping for it.
Love is a naked shadow, On a gnarled and naked tree.