MsCali2u

THE NEGRO MOTHER Children, I come back today, to tell you a story of the long dark way That I had to climb, that I had to know, in order that the race might live and grow Look at my face, dark as the night, yet shinning like the sun with love's true light I am the dark girl who crossed the wide sea, carrying in my body the seed of the free I am the woman who worked in the field, bringing the cotton and the corn to yield I am the one who labored as a slave, beaten and mistreated for the work that I gave Children sold away from me, husband sold too, no safety, no love, no respect was I due Three hundred years in the deepest south: But God put a song and a prayer in my mouth God put a dream like steel in my soul, now through my children I'm reaching the goal Now through my childern young and free, I realize the blessing denied to me I couldn't read then, I couldn't write, I had nothing back there in the night Sometimes the valley was filled with tears, but I kept on trudging on through the lonely years Sometimes the road was hot with the sun, but I had to keep on til my work was done I had to keep on, no stopping for me, I was the seed of the coming free I nourished the dream that nothing could smother, deep im my breasts, THE NEGRO MOTHER I had only hope then, but now through you, dark ones of today my dreams must come true All you dark chlildren of the world today, remember my sweat, my pain, my despair Remember my years heavy with sorrow, and make of those years a torch for tomorrow Make of my past a road to the light, out of the darkness, the ignorance, the night Lift high my banner out of the dust, stand like free men supporting my trust Believe in the right, let none push you back, remember the whip and the slaver's track Remember how the strong in struggle and strife, still bar you the way and deny you life But march ever forward breaking down bars, look ever upward at the sun and the stars Oh, my dark children , may my dreams and my prayers, impel you forever up the great stairs For I will be with you till no white brother, dares to keep down the chilidren of the Negro Mother!!!!!!