DevotionReader Series: 30 Ways of Looking at Black Poetry
“Let a race of men now rise and take control.” – Theme for Week #4, April 22 thru April 29
Forward, Always Forward - John Henrik Clarke
Forward, always forward,forward is the command;Look not on dead yesterday,A present battle is at hand.Raise you voice in splendid tones,So sleeping men can hear!Don’t be a backslider in the ranks,Be a pioneer.Don’t hold behind your lips,Words that you wish to say;Dip you torch in the oils of courage;Light it and lead the way.
I know your burden is heavyAnd your goal seems not in sight,Travel on with your heavy burdenAnd your weary road will lead to light.Forward along life’s rugged road,Believing that right is might;When the road seems dark ahead of you,Self-confidence will be your light.
Even if it seems that your weary pathIs hidden from the sun,Never lay down your weaponUntil the battle is won.Again I say, forward,Forward like fighting men:Though life’s mountains are steep and rugged,With courage you can ascend.With that you cannot fail;Other men will rise with eagerness,To follow your fearless trail.
John H. Clarke, “Forward, Always, Forward,” Rebellion in Rhyme: The Early Poetry of John H. Clarke, Africa World Press, 1991; printed under the title, “Forward to Present Day Negro Youth.”
Devotionreader.com 30 Days of Looking at Black Poetry -- Day: One O Black and Unknown Bards Two Listen Children Three For the Record Four Ballad of Birmingham Five Six The Idea of Ancestry Seven I Want to Write Eight A Grandfather Poem Nine Sweet Sound Ten My Brother is Homemade Eleven Those Winter Sundays Twelve SOS Thirteen Resurrections Fourteen Jessie Mitchell's Mother Fifteen April Rain Song Sixteen I've Got A Home in that Rock Seventeen Earth Screaming Eighteen Returning Spring Nineteen Newark, for Now [68] Twenty Dawn Twenty-One Fir Twenty-Two Comin Strong Twenty-Three From a Black Feminists Conference Reflections on Margaret Walker: Poet Twenty-Four My Africa Twenty-Five Strong Men Twenty-Six Today's News Twenty-Seven My Guilt Twenty-Eight Forward, Always Forward Twenty-Nine The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa Thirty What Harriet Said
