I Cut My Teeth As The Black

If I Am Going To Be A Poet At All, I Am Going To Be Poet And Not Negro Poet.

The Loss Of Love Is A Terrible Thing; They Lie Who Say That Death Is Worse.

[w]e Have Always Resented The Natural Inclination Of Most White People To Demand Spirituals The Moment It Is Known That A Negro Is About To Sing. So Often The Request Has Seemed To Savor Of The Feeling That We Could Do This And This Alone.

Dame Poverty Gave Me My Name, And Pain Godfathered Me.

Lord, I Fashion Dark Gods, Too, Daring Even To Give You Dark Despairing Features