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The Web Poetry Corner - Ronald G. Auguste - I AM THE UNIVERSAL NEGRO

I AM THE UNIVERSAL NEGRO

by

Ronald G. Auguste

(For Stokely Carmichael)

I am the universal Negro.
My roots lie some in Africa.
My sweat flows in the Congo.
My blood still irrigates the New World,
Where I have been equated with the mud.
Variegated corpuscles compose my blood!

I stand as tall as Kilimanjaro --
Strong as it! huge as it! black as it!

I am the universal Negro.
I have been ostracized, and spat upon!
An outcast of the world! an outcast
Even in the countries of my heritage,
Where to hate me -- is to love!
To savage me -- is to be civilized!
To humble me -- is to be superior!

My shadow darkens the conscience of the world.
My voice encompasses the world.

Listen to my voice, and you will hear
The shame of continents, in continents of grief.

Listen to my voice!

It is the howl of humanity!
It is the passiveness of pain!
It is the wretchedness of woe!
It is the salt of suffering!
It is the merriment of mirth!
It is the doldrums of despair!
It is the fragrance of forgiveness!
It is the fearlessness of faith!
It is the sombreness of sorrow!

It is the bleeding,
Pleading heart-song, of a tormented soul!

I am the universal Negro.
My shadow lengthens on a shrinking world.

NEXT?
Why don't you look at Canada and this War
by: James Bredin
from: Toronto, ON, CA

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