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Countee Cullen Biography

Countee Cullen (May 30, 1903 – January 9, 1946), born Countee LeRoy Porter, was a prominent African-American poet, novelist, children's writer, and playwright during the Harlem Renaissance.

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Countee Cullen Quotes

[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.

Alone, Feelings, Negro, People, Seemed, White

If I am going to be a poet at all, I am going to be POET and not NEGRO POET.

Ifs, Negro, Poet

Dame Poverty gave me my name, And Pain godfathered me.

Dames, Gave, Name, Names, Pain

The truth is. . . everything counts. Everything. Everything we do and everything we say. Everything helps or hurts; everything adds to or takes away from someone else.

Away, Hurt, Hurts, Poetry, Truth

What is Africa to me: Copper sun or scarlet sea, Jungle star or jungle track, Strong bronzed men, or regal black Women from whose loins I sprang When the birds of Eden sang?

Loins, Men, Scarlet, Stars, Strong

Give but a grain of the heart's rich seed, Confine some under cover, And when love goes, bid him God-speed. And find another lover.

Bid, Confine, Giving, Heart, Love, Lovers

Lord, I fashion dark gods, too, Daring even to give You Dark despairing features

Daring, Dark, Fashion, Features, God, Gods

The key to all strange things is in thy heart. . . .
My spirit has come home, that sailed the doubtful seas.

Heart, Home, Key, Keys, Strange

The night whose sable breast relieves the stark, White stars, is no less lovely being dark

Dark, Night, Sable, Stars, White

Death cut the strings that gave me life, And handed me to Sorrow, The only kind of middle wife My folks could beg or borrow.

Beg, Cut, Cutting, Kind, Sorrow, Wife

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, So I make an idle boast; Jesus of the twice-turned cheek Lamb of God, although I speak With my mouth thus, in my heart Do I play a double part.

Father, Heart, Idle, Jesus, Mouth

Africa? A book one thumbs Listlessly, till slumber comes.

Africa, Book, Listlessly, Slumber, Thumbs

I cut my teeth as the black raccoon-- For implements of battle.

Battle, Black, Cut, Cutting, Implements

Quaint, outlandish heathen gods Black men fashion out of rods

Black, Fashion, Heathen, Men, Quaint

We shall not always plant while others reap

Plant, Reap

Never love with all your heart, It only ends in aching.

Aching, Ends, Heart, Love

Yet do I marvel at this curious thing:
To make a poet black, and bid him sing!

Bid, Black, Curious, Marvel, Poet

For we must be one thing or the other, an asset or a liability, the sinew in your wing to help you soar, or the chain to bind you to earth.

Asset, Bind, Earth, Soar, Ties, Wings

All day long and all night through, One thing only must I do: Quench my pride and cool my blood, Lest I perish in the flood.

Blood, Day, Night, Pride, Thing

Lord, forgive me if my need Sometimes shapes a human creed.

Creed, Forgive Me, Forgiving, Human, Needs, Shapes

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Countee Cullen Biography

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