If We Must Die - Claude McKay (1919)

If we must die, let it not be like hogs
Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot,
While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs,
Making their mock at our accursed lot.
If we must die, O let us nobly die,
So that our precious blood may not be shed
In vain; then even the monsters we defy
Shall be constrained to honor us though dead!
O kinsmen we must meet the common foe!
Though far outnumbered let us show us brave,
And for their thousand blows deal one deathblow!
What though before us lies the open grave?
Like men we'll face the murderous, cowardly pack,
Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!

woooo! i memorized this poem today!

forgive the incorrect punctuation (I hope I get it right)...

Well son, I tell you life for me ain't been no crystal stair
its had tacks in it
and splinters
and boards torn up
and places with no carpet on the floor,
bare.
but all the time
I'se been a climbin on
and reaching landings
and turning corners
and sometimes goin in the dark where there aint been no light
so boy
dont you turn back now
don't you set down on these steps
cuz u feel its gettin kinder hard
don't you fall now
for I'se still goin, honey
i'se still aclimbing
and life for me
ain't been no crystal stair

Memorize this

Mother to Son by Langston Hughes
Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So, boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps.
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now—
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

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