African American Poetry (1870-1928): A Digital Anthology

Lewis Alexander, "Effigy" (1927)

FORM 
 
You stood in the yard 
Like a lilac bush 
With your head tossed high 
As if to push 
Your hair in a blossom 
About your head 
You wore the grace 
Of a fragile reed. 

FASHION

Your gown crackled loud 
Like the swish of leaves 
Being flitted about 
By a lyric breeze 
Your step was like a dainty fawn 
Breathing the nectared air at dawn, 
Oft have I seen the rose in you 
But it never bloomed such a brilliant hue. 


Published in Ebony and Topaz, 1927

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