Celebrating Black Poets

The Poetry Shop is highlighting poetry from four movements where Black poets have made incredible contributions. Explore The Harlem Renaissance, The Black Arts Movement, Spoken Word, and a wide collection of Contemporary Black poets. Please feel free to review the options and contact us if there are any you feel should be considered for inclusion.


Harlem Renaissance poetry from a book in our shop...

Mother to Son

by Langston Hughes

Well, son, I'll tell you: Life for me ain't been no crystal stair. It's had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor—Bare. But all the time I'se been a-climbin' on, And reachin' landin's, And turnin' corners, And sometimes goin' in the dark Where there ain't been no light. So boy, don't you turn back. Don't you set down on the steps 'Cause you finds it's kinder hard. Don't you fall now— For I'se still goin', honey, I'se still climbin', And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
Collected Poems of Langston Hughes - The Poetry Shop

The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes

$23.00 $28.00
33 in stock
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Black Arts Movement Poetry from a book in our Shop...

Coal

by Audre Lorde

I Is the total black, being spoken From the earth's inside. There are many kinds of open. How a diamond comes into a knot of flame How a sound comes into a word, coloured By who pays what for speaking. Some words are open Like a diamond on glass windows Singing out within the crash of passing sun Then there are words like stapled wagers In a perforated book—buy and sign and tear apart— And come whatever wills all chances The stub remains An ill-pulled tooth with a ragged edge. Some words live in my throat Breeding like adders. Others know sun Seeking like gypsies over my tongue To explode through my lips Like young sparrows bursting from shell. Some words Bedevil me. Love is a word another kind of open— As a diamond comes into a knot of flame I am black because I come from the earth's inside Take my word for jewel in your open light. -- © Audre Lorde 1997, from The Collected Poems of Audre Lorde
Collected Poems of Audre Lorde - The Poetry Shop

Collected Poems of Audre Lorde

$21.95 $26.95
44 in stock
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An excerpt of Spoken Word poetry from a book in our shop...

This Is Not a Small Voice

by Sonia Sanchez

This is not a small voice you hear this is a large voice coming out of these cities. This is the voice of LaTanya. Kadesha. Shaniqua. This is the voice of Antoine. Darryl. Shaquille. Running over waters navigating the hallways of our schools spilling out on the corners of our cities and no epitaphs spill out of their river mouths. This is not a small love you hear this is a large love, a passion for kissing learning on its face. This is a love that crowns the feet with hands that nourishes, conceives, feels the water sails mends the children, folds them inside our history where they toast more than the flesh where they suck the bones of the alphabet and spit out closed vowels. This is a love colored with iron and lace. This is a love initialed Black Genius. This is not a small voice you hear. -- Excerpt, This is Not a Small Voice © Sonia Sanchez, Beacon Press, Boston,
Collected Poems - The Poetry Shop

The Collected Poems

$19.95 $24.95
26 in stock
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An excerpt of contemporary poetry from a book in our shop...

Nina's Blues

by Cornelius Eady

Your body, hard vowels In a soft dress, is still. What you can't know is that after you died All the black poets In New York City Took a deep breath, And breathed you out; Dark corners of small clubs, The silence you left twitching On the floors of the gigs You turned your back on, The balled-up fists of notes Flung, angry from a keyboard. You won't be able to hear us Try to etch what rose Off your eyes, from your throat. Out you bleed, not as sweet, or sweaty, Through our dark fingertips. We drum rest We drum thank you We drum stay. -- © Cornelius Eady, "Nina's Blues," from Hardheaded Weather: New and Selected Poems, published by Putnam.
Hardheaded Weather: New and Selected Poems - The Poetry Shop

Hardheaded Weather: New and Selected Poems

$24.00 $29.00
1096 in stock
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Contemporary Black Poetry

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American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin

American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin

American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin

$19.00
Sale price  $19.00 Regular price  $24.00
I Can't Talk about the Trees Without the Blood

I Can't Talk about the Trees Without the Blood

I Can't Talk about the Trees Without the Blood

$18.00
Sale price  $18.00 Regular price  $23.00
Above Ground

Above Ground

Above Ground

$17.99
Sale price  $17.99 Regular price  $22.99
Night Watch: Poems

Night Watch: Poems

Night Watch: Poems

$29.00
Sale price  $29.00 Regular price  $34.00
Sour Honey & Soul Food

Sour Honey & Soul Food

Sour Honey & Soul Food

$16.99
Sale price  $16.99 Regular price  $21.99
Unshuttered: Poems

Unshuttered: Poems

Unshuttered: Poems

$28.00
Sale price  $28.00 Regular price  $33.00
Blood Dazzler

Blood Dazzler

Blood Dazzler

$18.00
Sale price  $18.00 Regular price  $23.00
Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems

Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems

Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems

$30.00
Sale price  $30.00 Regular price  $35.00
Scorched Earth: Poems

Scorched Earth: Poems

Scorched Earth: Poems

$17.99
Sale price  $17.99 Regular price  $22.99
Black Girl, Bloom Bright

Black Girl, Bloom Bright

Black Girl, Bloom Bright

$18.99
Sale price  $18.99 Regular price  $23.99
Proof: Inaugural Poem Suite

Proof: Inaugural Poem Suite

Proof: Inaugural Poem Suite

$29.95
Sale price  $29.95 Regular price  $34.95
Proof: Inaugural Poem Suite

Proof: Inaugural Poem Suite

Proof: Inaugural Poem Suite

$14.95
Sale price  $14.95 Regular price  $19.95
An Essential Poetry Writing Bundle: Mary Oliver, Tracy K. Smith, Dorianne Laux

An Essential Poetry Writing Bundle: Mary Oliver, Tracy K. Smith, Dorianne Laux

An Essential Poetry Writing Bundle: Mary Oliver, Tracy K. Smith, Dorianne Laux

$59.99
Sale price  $59.99 Regular price  $74.98
Hoops

Hoops

Hoops

$17.95
Sale price  $17.95 Regular price  $22.95
Razzle Dazzle: New and Selected Poems 2002-2022

Razzle Dazzle: New and Selected Poems 2002-2022

Razzle Dazzle: New and Selected Poems 2002-2022

$18.99
Sale price  $18.99 Regular price  $23.99
Razzle Dazzle: New and Selected Poems 2002-2022

Razzle Dazzle: New and Selected Poems 2002-2022

Razzle Dazzle: New and Selected Poems 2002-2022

$26.95
Sale price  $26.95 Regular price  $31.95