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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
MCDONOGH DAY IN NEW ORLEANS, by MARCUS B. CHRISTIAN Poet's Biography First Line: The cotton blouse you wear, your mother said Last Line: How dear comes beauty when a skin is black. Subject(s): African Americans; Beauty; Negroes; American Blacks | |||
The cotton blouse you wear, your mother said, After a day of toil, "I guess I'll buy it;" For ribbons on your head and blouse she paid Two-bits a yard -- as if you would deny it! And nights, after a day of kitchen toil, She stitched your re-made skirt of serge -- once blue -- Weary of eye, beneath a lamp of oil: McDonogh would be proud of her and you. Next came white "creepers" and white stockings too -- They almost asked her blood when they were sold; Like some dark princess, to the school go you, With blue larkspur and yellow marigold; But few would know -- or even guess this fact: How dear comes beauty when a skin is black. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MY AUNT ELLA MAE by MICHAEL S. HARPER DERRICK POEM (THE LOST WORLD) by TERRANCE HAYES ODE TO BIG TREND by TERRANCE HAYES WOOFER (WHEN I CONSIDER THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN) by TERRANCE HAYES CONDITIONS XXI by ESSEX HEMPHILL THE CRAFTSMAN by MARCUS B. CHRISTIAN |
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