To the Diaspora by Gwendolyn Brooks

 

GWENDOLYN BROOKS – TO THE DIASPORA

AUTHOR INTRODUCTION

NAME                      Gwendolyn Brooks

BORN                       7 June 1917

NATIONALITY      American

OCCUPATION        Poet

WORKS                   A Street in Bronzeville,

                                  In the Mecca.

DIED.                       3 December 2000

TO THE DIASPORA

you did not know you were Afrika

When you set out for Afrika

you did not know you were going.

Because

you did not know you were Afrika.

You did not know the Black continent

that had to be reached

was you.

I could not have told you then that some sun

would come,

somewhere over the road,

would come evoking the diamonds

of you, the Black continent--

somewhere over the road.

You would not have believed my mouth.

When I told you, meeting you somewhere close

to the heat and youth of the road,

liking my loyalty, liking belief,

you smiled and you thanked me but very little believed me.

Here is some sun. Some.

Now off into the places rough to reach.

Though dry, though drowsy, all unwillingly a-wobble,

into the dissonant and dangerous crescendo.

Your work, that was done, to be done to be done to be done.