Full Description
2000 marks the centenary of "Lift Every Voice and Sing," James Weldon Johnson's most famous lyric, which is now embraced as the Negro National Anthem. In celebration, this Penguin original collects all the poems from Johnson's published works-Fifty Years and Other Poems (1917), God's Trombones (1927), and Saint Peter Relates an Incident of the Resurrection Day (1935)-along with a number of previously unpublished poems.Sondra Kathryn Wilson, the foremost authority on Johnson and his work, provides an introduction that sheds light on Johnson's many achievements and his pioneering contributions to recording and celebrating the African American experience.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Contents
Complete PoemsIntroductionSuggestions for Further ReadingChronologyPart I. God's Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in VersePreface to God's TrombonesListen, Lord - A PrayerThe CreationThe Prodigal SonGo Down Death - A Funeral SermonNoah Built the ArkThe CrucifixionLet My People GoThe Judgment DayPart II. Saint Peter Relates an Incident and Fifty Years and Other PoemsSaint Peter Relates an Incident of the Resurrection DayO Black and Unknown BardsBrothers - American DramaO Southland!We to AmericaMother NightThe Young WarriorThe White WitchMy CityThe Glory of the Day Was in Her FaceLifeThe Black MammyFragmentMother, Farewell! (from the Spanish of Placido)Girl of FifteenThe SuicideDown by the Carib SeaI. Sunrise in the TropicsII. Los CigarrillosIII. TeestayIV. The Lottery GirlV. The Dancing GirlVI. Sunset in the TropicsDeep in the Quiet WoodPrayer at SunriseHer Eyes Twin PoolsVashtiIf I Were ParisGhosts of the Old YearBeauty Never OldBlessed SleepThe Greatest of These Is WarA Poet to His Baby SonMa Lady's Lips Am Like de HoneyA Plantation BacchanalTunkBrer Rabbit, You's de Cutes' of 'Em AllAnswer to PrayerA Banjo SongThe RivalsSence You Went AwayLift Every Voice and SingEnvoyIntroduction to Fifty Years and Other Poems by Brander MatthewsFifty YearsTo Horace BumsteadThe Color SergeantFrom the German of UhlandBefore a PaintingI Hear the Stars Still SingingA Mid-Day DreamerThe TemptressThe Ghost of Deacon Brown"Lazy"OmarVoluptas (I)The Word of an EngineerThe Gift to SingMorning, Noon and NightThe AwakeningVenus in a GardenNobody's Lookin' But de Owl and de MoonYou's Sweet to Yo' Mammy Jes de SameJuly in GeorgyDat Gal o' MineThe Seasons'Possum SongAn ExplanationDe Little Pickaninny's Gone to SleepPart III. The College Years and Other PoemsMoodsA Passing MelodyThe RiverHeleneThe Class of '94Grandmother's BibleA DreamSonnetSonnet - The SecretClass PoemVoluptas (II)Optimistic SamMobile Mardi GrasAfter My First Week Teaching in the CountryTo a Brook Near My School HouseA RecollectionThe Last WaltzTo a FriendOnly Trust MeA BrandChristmas CarolMiserableTo H.B.To a Friend, with a RoseA HeathenTo My ValentineOde to FloridaAcknowledgmentThe Passionate LoverArt vs. TradeThe Poet's HarpI Love Thee StillTo Louie (I)A Fragment (I)Untitled Poem ("Was what you thought love, but passing")Untitled Poem ("Come with me my love and wander")
