“Love is a naked shadow, On a gnarled and naked tree.”

Whiskey just naturally likes me but beer likes me better.

For my best poems were all written when I felt the worst. When I was happy, I didn’t write anything.

The depression brought everybody down a peg or two. And the Negroes had but few pegs to fall.

I dream a world… where wretchedness will hang its head and joy, like a pearl, attends the needs of all mankind. Of such I dream, my world!

We Negro writers, just by being black, have been on the blacklist all our lives. Censorship for us begins at the color line.

Misery is when you heard on the radio that the neighborhood you live in is a slum but you always thought it was home.

When peoples care for you and cry for you, they can straighten out your soul.

Hang yourself, poet, in your own words. Otherwise, you are dead.

Out of love, No regrets– Though the goodness Be wasted forever. Out of love, No regrets– Though the return Be never.

Pleasured equally In seeking as in finding, Each detail minding, Old Walt went seeking And finding.

Life dosent frighten me at all.

I stay cool, and dig all jive, That’s the way I stay alive. My motto, as I live and learn, is Dig and be dug In return.

Everything there is but lovin’ leaves a rust on your old soul.

Well, when Christ comes back this time, I hope He comes back mad His own self. I hope He drives the Jim Crowers out of their high places, every living last one of them from Washington to Texas.

Keep your hand on the plow. Hold on.

We younger Negro artists who create now intend to express our individual dark-skinned selves without fear or shame. If white people are pleased we are glad. If they aren?t it doesn?t matter.

I love summer and sunny days but there’s a certain magic in rain. There’s a promise of new beginnings and growth that comes with rain.

When I stopped believing in love, the universe sent you to remind me that love, true love, does exist, even for me.

Is this a parting or are you hoping to meet again? Is this really goodbye, or are you still wanting to cross paths again?

You can choose a gift for a loved one for an infinite amount of time.

Love is only pain in disguise.

There are many reasons why we don’t tell people the truth. Maybe we’re not brave enough. Maybe we’re afraid to lose someone by telling the truth. Maybe all we want for the person we love is to be happy – with or without us.

My soul speaks a language, only you can understand.

I’ve loved you from the very first moment. But I still have to figure out how to love myself.