Advice: A Book of Poems

<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</SPAN></span> <h2 class="nobreak">NEGROES</h2> <div class="poetry-container"> <div class="poetry"> <div class="verse">The loose eyes of an old man</div> <div class="verse">Shone aloof upon his boyish face;</div> <div class="verse">And a sluggish innocence</div> <div class="verse">Hugged his dull brown skin.</div> <div class="verse">He sang a hymn caught from his elders</div> <div class="verse">And his voice resembled</div> <div class="verse">A quavering, feverish laugh</div> <div class="verse">Softened in a swaying cradle.</div> <div class="verse">His life had found a refuge in his voice,</div> <div class="verse">And the rest of him was sickly flesh</div> <div class="verse">Ignorant of life and death.</div> <div class="verse">Like a crushed, excited clown</div> <div class="verse">His mother shuffled out upon the porch.</div> <div class="verse">Slowly her dark brown face resolved</div> <div class="verse">Into the hushed and sulky look</div> <div class="verse">Of one who stands within a dim-walled trap.</div> <div class="verse">Lazily uncertain,</div> <div class="verse">She raised the boy into her arms.</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</SPAN></span> <div class="verse">Then her voice swung in the air</div> <div class="verse">Like a quavering, feverish laugh</div> <div class="verse">Softened in a swaying cradle.</div> </div></div> <hr class="chap" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />