“Spring irises bloom. The caged bird no longer sings— the knee on his throat.” ― Kamand Kojouri

                                    Alabama 1960 by Norman Lewis (American, 1909-1979)

"HARLEM"
LANGSTON   HUGHES

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Here on the edge of hell Stands Harlem - Remembering the old lies, The old kicks in the back, The old "Be patient" They told us before. Sure, we remember, Now when the man at the corner store Says sugar's gone up another two cents, Ane bread one, And there's a new tax on cigarettes - We remember the job we never had, Never could get, And can't have now Because we're colored. So we stand here On the edge of hell In Harlem And look out on the world And wonder What we're gonna do In the face of what We remember.