deepundergroundpoetry.com

Fallen Angels

( after Langston Hughes )


I’m waken’d by a po’em in my head,
Recitin’ in a rhyme of my own kin.
A rhythm that I’m dancin’ in my bed,
A black man in a coffee-flavored skin.

To see me on a slave ship below deck,
I’m waken’d by a po’em in my head.
An’ here we are a-pitchin’ till we retch,
I pray I’m only dreamin’ an’ not dead.

The ship is swallowed in a sky of red,
As if ol’ Satan’s army is a swarm.
I’m waken’d by a po’em in my head,
The cries of fallen angels in the storm.

To all the slaves each turnin’ on a wheel
As ev’ry chain an’ shackle now is shed.
A time to kill becomes a time to heal,
I’m waken’d by a po’em in my head.
 
 
 

 
Written by Jade-Pandora (jade tiger)
Published
Author's Note
131 words
Inspired by a dream that was literally speaking this poem to me after an intense evening of reading Langston Hughes poetry which included:
“Let America Be America Again”, “I, Too”, “I look at the world””, “Freedom”, “Hope”, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”, “Remember”, “Who but the Lord?”, “You and your whole race.”.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/langston-hughes#tab-poems

For the Classic Corner’s tribute “We Are Beautiful and Ugly Too” co-hosted by JohnnyBlaze and Ahavati.
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