Langston Lullaby Poem by Lori Boulard

Sing your song of Harlem!
Raise it up, sing it proud.
Lay out a Lenox Avenue lullaby
swaying with the soul
of those sweet weary blues.

Serve it up hot
like they do on the corner -
the grind
of poverty and pride brewing
in the finest cup of coffee
you can buy for a dollar.

Swing out that rhythm
with the hustle and bustle
of a race keeping pace
with a lighter face.

Sing it loud
to shake downtown
with voices of a people
going on
up the steps
and along your river,
moving right on up
those old dirty streets of Harlem.