Poem by James Weldon Johnson

Mother Night

    Eternities before the first-born day,
      Or ere the first sun fledged his wings of flame,
      Calm Night, the everlasting and the same,
    A brooding mother over chaos lay.
    And whirling suns shall blaze and then decay,
      Shall run their fiery courses and then claim
      The haven of the darkness whence they came;
    Back to Nirvanic peace shall grope their way.

    So when my feeble sun of life burns out,
      And sounded is the hour for my long sleep,
       I shall, full weary of the feverish light,
    Welcome the darkness without fear or doubt,
      And heavy-lidded, I shall softly creep
       Into the quiet bosom of the Night.

1. An Explanation
2. Brer Rabbit, You's de Cutes' of 'Em All
3. Down by the Carib Sea. 4. The Lottery Girl
4. Venus in a Garden
5. De Little Pickaninny's Gone to Sleep

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