Lawrence has a wonderful hill in it, with a university on top and the first time I ran away from home, I ran up the hill and looked across the world: Kansas wheat fields and the Kaw River, and I wanted to go some place, too. I got a whipping for it.

Sometimes a crumb falls From the tables of joy, Sometimes a bone Is flung. To some people Love is given, To others Only heaven.

I've known rivers: I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins. My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

Wear it Like a banner For the proud? Not like a shroud.

How still, How strangely still The water is today, It is not good For water To be so still that way. ~ "Sea Calm

Folks, I'm telling you, birthing is hard and dying is mean- so get yourself a little loving in between.

I am a Negro: Black as the night is black, Black like the depths of my Africa.