Caroling Dusk/Challenge

For works with similar titles, see Challenge.

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Salutamus

Caroling Dusk (1927)
edited by Countee Cullen

Challenge by Sterling Allen Brown

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Sterling Allen Brown4755216Caroling Dusk — Challenge1927Countee Cullen

CHALLENGE

I said, in drunken pride of youth and youThat mischief-making Time would never darePlay his ill-humoured tricks upon us two, Strange and defiant lovers that we were.I said that even Death, Highwayman Death,Could never master lovers such as we,That even when his clutch had throttled breath,My hymns would float in praise, undauntedly.

I did not think such words were bravado.Oh, I think honestly we knew no fear,Of Time or Death. We loved each other so.And thus, with you believing me, I madeMy prophecies, rebellious, unafraid. . . .And that was foolish, wasn’t it, my dear?