Award winning poet shares words about Juneteenth on BookNotes
Image from LCS Northwest
Juneteenth—June Nineteenth—will be observed as a public holiday for the second year on Monday, June 20th. Award-winning poet, Brian Donnell James, shares thoughts on how poetry contributes to this commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States.
“Sweet Tones, Somber Tones”
Sweet tones,…Somber tones in the night sky
Me all alone with this here old horn as my only ally
But I’m feeling good, feeling jazzy, playing up a storm People hearing my sound, Now they coming in to get warm Heads swaying slowly, sorta side to side
Fingers snapping I’m filled with pride
Entertaining my people in the Chocolate City
Got my eye on that dark skinned girl looking pretty
Fever running, running wild
This ole woman say “Go ‘head, play it child”
Ain’t no worry, just dancing and fun
Wasn’t nothing like this when the night begun Yeah….these my peoples, jam packing the place
I’m proud of my culture, and I’m proud of my race
Giving em something back for what they gave me
Loving every minute playing this ole horn real jazzy
Short hair, cornrows, scarves , and braids
Going out into the cold night as all the fun fades
Sweet tones,…Somber tones in the night sky
Me all alone with this here ole horn as my only ally…
© 1991
Tags:Booknotes, Brian Donnell James, Juneteenth
