Georgia Douglas Johnson, "Finality" (1926)
Go forward! leave me to the night
Beneath the coldly staring stars,
The waiting winter and its blight.
Seek other, fairer lips, forget!
Forbid your lightest thought to stray
In simpie kindliness or grief
Upon the closing backward way.
For I would never hold the heart
That mutely quivers to be free.
Unfurl your restless wings, away!
And leave the emptiness to me!
Published in The Crisis, September 1926