Caroling Dusk/Negro Woman

by Lewis Grandison Alexander

NEGRO WOMAN

The sky hangs heavy tonightLike the hair of a Negro woman.The scars of the moon are curved Like the wrinkles on the brow of a Negro woman.

The stars twinkle tonightLike the glaze in a Negro woman’s eyes,Drinking the tears set flowing by an aging hurtGnawing at her heart.

The earth trembles tonightLike the quiver of a Negro woman’s eye-lids cupping tears.