The Book of American Negro Poetry/Tired
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TIRED
I am tired of work; I am tired of building up somebody
else's civilization.
Let us take a rest, M'Lissy Jane.
I will go down to the Last Chance Saloon, drink a gallon
or two of gin, shoot a game or two of dice and
sleep the rest of the night on one of Mike's barrels.
You will let the old shanty go to rot, the white people's
clothes turn to dust, and the Calvary Baptist Church
sink to the bottomless pit.
You will spend your days forgetting you married me and
your nights hunting the warm gin Mike serves the
ladies in the rear of the Last Chance Saloon.
Throw the children into the river; civilization has given
us too many. It is better to die than it is to grow
up and find out that you are colored.
Pluck the stars out of the heavens. The stars mark our
destiny. The stars marked my destiny.
I am tired of civilization.
else's civilization.
Let us take a rest, M'Lissy Jane.
I will go down to the Last Chance Saloon, drink a gallon
or two of gin, shoot a game or two of dice and
sleep the rest of the night on one of Mike's barrels.
You will let the old shanty go to rot, the white people's
clothes turn to dust, and the Calvary Baptist Church
sink to the bottomless pit.
You will spend your days forgetting you married me and
your nights hunting the warm gin Mike serves the
ladies in the rear of the Last Chance Saloon.
Throw the children into the river; civilization has given
us too many. It is better to die than it is to grow
up and find out that you are colored.
Pluck the stars out of the heavens. The stars mark our
destiny. The stars marked my destiny.
I am tired of civilization.