Week 4: GATHER

Romare Bearden, Big Sister, collage, 1940s?

I was delighted with the conversation we had about this Bearden collage--starting with Aaron's "I could look at this a long time..." Hope to continue in this way--leads to a very worthwhile time together, these Tuesday evenings...

Here's the Langston Hughes (you probably all know it from years ago, but sometimes poems assume new meanings when you need to read them.) That's certainly been true with me. I'll post two--the first well known (The Negro Speaks of Rivers), and the second (Walls),  which hits a different note--one which runs through much of Langstion Hughes work (because he was responsible and aware?) where a certain sadness or lament in feeling is balanced (redeemed?) by a depth of understanding... There's something of this in Bearden, too--although rather than "sadness" I'd say--an astute awareness of the world around... Which in its own way can lead to celebration...


The Negro Speaks of Rivers
Langston Hughes

I've known rivers
I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the
flow of human blood in human veins.
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young. I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.
I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln
went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy
bosom turn all golden in the sunset.

I've known rivers
Ancient, dusky rivers.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

_______ 

Walls

Four walls can hold
So much pain,
Four wall that shield
From the wind and rain.

Four walls can shelter
So much sorrow
Garnered rom yesterday
And held for tomorrow.


Langston Hughes, Collected Poems

"Gather up In the arms of your love--Those who expect No love from above." (from his poem, Prayer)