Gwendolyn Brooks
Welcome to the final week of poetry by Gwendolyn Brooks as part of Inspirational shorts Episode 223 on the podcast. The word today is Helpful - Think of a time where you helped someone or was yourself helped and how did it make you feel
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The Sermon on the Warpland
And several strengths from drowsiness campaignedbut spoke in Single Sermon on the warpland.
And went about the warpland saying No.“My people, black and black, revile the River.Say that the River turns, and turn the River.Say that our Something in doublepod containsseeds for the coming hell and health together.Prepare to meet(sisters, brothers) the brash and terrible weather;the pains;the bruising; the collapse of bestials, idols.But then oh then!—the stuffing of the hulls!the seasoning of the perilously sweet!the health! The heralding of the clear obscure!Build now your Church, my brothers, sisters. Buildnever with brick or Corten nor with granite.Build with lithe love. With love like lion-eyes.with love like morningrise.with love like black, our black—luminously indiscreet;complete; continuous.”
***********************************************The Second Sermon on the Warpland
This is the urgency: Live! and have your blooming in the noise of the whirlwind.
Salve salvage in the spin.Endorse the splendor splashes;stylize the flawed utility;prop a malign or failing light–but know the whirlwind is our commonwealth.Not the easy man, who rides above them all,not the jumbo brigand, not the pet bird of poets, that sweetest sonnet, shall straddle the whirlwind.Nevertheless, live.
All about are the cold places, all about are the pushmen and jeopardy, theft–all about are the stormers and scramblers, butwhat must our Season be, which starts from Fear?Live and go out.
Define andmedicate the whirlwind.
The timecracks into furious flower. Lifts its faceall unashamed. And sways in wicked grace.Whose half-black hands assemble orangesis tom-tom hearted(goes in bearing oranges and boom).And there are bells for orphans–and red and shriek and sheen.A garbageman is dignifiedas any diplomat.
Big Bessie’s feet hurt like nobody’s business,but she stands–bigly–under the unruly scrutiny, stands in the wild weed. In the wild weedshe is a citizen, and is a moment of highest quality; admirable.It is lonesome, yes. For we are the last of the loud.Nevertheless, live.Conduct your blooming in the noise and whip of the whirlwind.
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