by Langston Hughes
Dream-singers,
Story-tellers,
Dancers,
Loud laughers in the hands of Fate–
My People.
Dish-washers,
Elevator-boys,
Ladies’ maids,
Crap-shooters,
Cooks,
Waiters,
Jazzers,
Nurses of babies,
Loaders of ships,
Porters,
Hairdressers,
Comedians in vaudeville
And band-men in circuses–
Dream-singers all,
Story-tellers all.
Dancers–
God! What dancers!
Singers–
God! What singers!
Singers and dancers,
Dangers and laughers.
Laughers?
Yes, laughers . . . . . laughers . . . . . . laughers–
Loud-mouthed laughers in the hands
Of Fate.
From Crisis magazine, June 1922.
ENCOMIA 