The poem of the day for today’s Black History Month Langston Hughes tribute is “Ballad of a Girl Whose Name is Mud.” During February each year, people all across the United States celebrate Black History Month. Things are no different here at Janeane’s World. This month I am copying an idea I got from my friend Pammy Pam over at An Unconventional Librarian and I am devoting the entire month to the poems of my favorite author and poet, Langston Hughes. I will start the month with my favorite poem and share a poem a day for the entire month.
You may ask what place does poetry or celebrations of Black History month have in this blog that was created to encourage, inspire and motivate women to be their best at work and home. I would answer that I am an African-American woman so black history is my history and when you understand and appreciate it, you come closer to understanding and appreciating me. I would also answer that poetry, like all forms of artistic expression fuels our passions, gives us hope makes us think and makes life richer and better.
Ballad of a Girl Whose Name is Mud
A girl with all that raising,
It’s hard to understand
How she could get in trouble
With a no-good man.
The guy she gave her all to
Dropped her with a thud
Now amongst decent people,
Dorothy’s name is mud.
But nobody’s see her shed a tear,
Nor seen her bang her head.
Aint even heard her murmur,
Lord, I wish I was dead!
No! The hussy’s telling everybody-
Just as if it was no sin-
That if she had a chance-
She’d do it agin!
This poem has so much going on with it!
1 2