The poem of the day for today’s Black History Month Langston Hughes celebration is “Hard Daddy.” 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 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 our lives richer and better.
Hard Daddy
I went to ma daddy,
Says Daddy I have got the blues.
Went to ma daddy,
Says Daddy I have got the blues.
Ma daddy says, Honey,
Can’t you bring me no better news?
I cried on his should but
He turned his back on me.
Cried on his should but
He turned his back on me.
He said a woman’s cryin’s
Never gonna bother me.
I wish I had wings to
Fly like the eagle flies.
Wish I had wings to
Fly like th eagle flies.
I’d fly on ma man an’
I’d scratch out both his eye.
This is a video of my reading of the poem. I really enjoyed the words and the visual picture of the events in my mind. If you feel like creating some drama, do a video of your own and share it with me at janeanedavis@janeanesworld.com .