African American Poetry: A Digital Anthology

Blanche Taylor Dickinson, "To One Who Thinks of Suicide" (1928)

To One Who Thinks of Suicide

By Blanche Taylor Dickinson

Sometimes it seems that only cowards live
With weighted hearts each day;
It seems braver far to take life up and go
A solitary way.
It seems a self reliant soul should know
When life has palled,
And win applause for surprising God . . .
Going in . . . uncalled.

Poor vain, gallant hero,
If the journey ended at the grave
I would cheer you . . . or perhaps I'd go
And wear the laurels of the brave.

But no! I rather choose to stay
And trust the clouds to blow away.
I'll blink and peer through fog of doubt
Until God blows my candle out . . .


Published in The Crisis, January 1928

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