Arna Bontemps, "God Give to Men" (1925)
An easy breeze at blossom time.
Grant his eager, slanting eyes to cover
Every land and dream
Of Afterwhile.
God give blue-eyed men their swivel chairs
To whirl in tall buildings,
Allow them many ships at sea,
And on land, soldiers
And policemen.
For black man, God, no need
To bother much,
But only fill afresh his meed
Of laughter,
His cup of tears.
god suffer little men
The taste of soul's desire.
Published in Opportunity, June 1925