If I am going to be a poet at all, I am going to be POET and not NEGRO POET. Countee Cullen More Quotes by Countee Cullen More Quotes From Countee Cullen The truth is... everything counts. Everything. Everything we do and everything we say. Everything helps or hurts; everything adds to or takes away from someone else. Countee Cullen poetry truth hurt There is no secret to success except hard work and getting something indefinable which we call 'the breaks. Countee Cullen hard-work break secret We shall not always plant while others reap Countee Cullen reap plant The key to all strange things is in thy heart..../ My spirit has come home, that sailed the doubtful seas. Countee Cullen keys home heart My poetry has become the way of my giving out what music is within me. Countee Cullen poetry giving way I was reared in the conservative atmosphere of a Methodist parsonage. Countee Cullen methodists atmosphere conservative For we must be one thing or the other, an asset or a liability, the sinew in your wing to help you soar, or the chain to bind you to earth. Countee Cullen ties earth wings We were not made to eternally weep. Countee Cullen made What is Africa to me: Copper sun or scarlet sea, Jungle star or jungle track, Strong bronzed men, or regal black Women from whose loins I sprang When the birds of Eden sang? Countee Cullen stars strong men Dame Poverty gave me my name, Countee Cullen dames pain names What is last year's snow to me, Countee Cullen snow past years Yet do I marvel at this curious thing:/ To make a poet black, and bid him sing! Countee Cullen curious poet black Not for myself I make this prayer, But for this race of mine That stretches forth from shadowed places Dark hands for bread and wine. Countee Cullen wine prayer dark [W]e have always resented the natural inclination of most white people to demand spirituals the moment it is known that a Negro is about to sing. So often the request has seemed to savor of the feeling that we could do this and this alone. Countee Cullen white feelings people I have a rendezvous with life. Countee Cullen rendezvous Never love with all your heart, It only ends in aching. Countee Cullen ends heart All day long and all night through, One thing only must I do: Quench my pride and cool my blood, Lest I perish in the flood. Countee Cullen pride night blood I cut my teeth as the black raccoon-- Countee Cullen black cutting battle Ever at Thy glowing altar Must my heart grow sick and falter, Wishing He I served were black. Countee Cullen glowing sick heart Lord, I fashion dark gods, too, Countee Cullen fashion god dark
