Po' Boy Blues

Po’ Boy Blues

Po’ Boy Blues

When I was home deSunshine seemed like gold.When I was home deSunshine seemed like gold.Since I come up North deWhole damn world’s turned cold.

I was a good boy,Never done no wrong.Yes, I was a good boy,Never done no wrong,But this world is wearyAn’ de road is hard an’ long.

I fell in love withA gal I thought was kind.Fell in love withA gal I thought was kind.She made me lose ma moneyAn’ almost lose ma mind.

Weary, weary,Weary early in de morn.Weary, weary,Early, early in de morn.I’s so wearyI wish I’d never been born.I’ve known rivers:I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than theflow of human blood in human veins.My soul has grown deep like the rivers.I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincolnwent down to New Orleans, and I’ve seen its muddybosom turn all golden in the sunset.

I’ve known rivers:Ancient, dusky rivers.My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

From The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes, published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.1994