Fool One

           

                                                I hope only

to be

a wise fool,

for only

Lear’s fool was wise—

while wise men

be fools that

blow out their

candles carelessly

and curse the night.

So let me a wise fool be.

For only a fool

knows that at the end

Only night is right.

Reading poetry at U of L's Estrom Library April 16, 2014

April is National Poetry Month: read a poet, kiss a poet

Joseph Seamon Cotter Jr.

Joseph Seamon Cotter Jr. was born 2 September 1895 .He was a talented journalist and poet. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He started his education with his sister teaching him to read. He graduated from Louisville’s Central High School in 1911. He went to Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee for two years and then he suffered with tuberculosis. He completed a lots of poetry during the last several years of his life.He relates to the Harlem Renaissance because hecreated poetry that related to the concerns at the time. He used self expression by bringing his own views to light and combining them with other peoples views. He died of tuberculosis in Louisville in 1919.

Poetry Analysis

AND WHAT SHALL YOU SAY?

Afro Images

                                                (For Natalie)

 

She was dark and fine

with large African sunsets

for eyes.

You could see the whole world

in her eyes.

Her eyes reflected joy;

they mirrored the pain—

centuries of lash and lack

and bloodhounds and canebrakes and

cotton fields at dawn.

She saw landscapes of white cotton bolls,

cypresses and bayous,

red clay and sky high pines.

 

Her eyes tightened at her birthpains;

the giant Robeson and red-headed Malcolm

and the thunder-throated Martin

and all the unborn sons and daughters

who will spring from their bones.

her eyes were prophets of past and present;

eons etched on her brown pupils.

But look deeper, much deeper—

for the future of our people is written

in this young girl’s eyes.

Carlotta plays

                        In the nude

                        With her

                        Long, brown hair

                        Caressing her bare shoulders

                        The bow pulls

                        Across the strings

                        And her areoles

                        Erect

                        In 4/4 time

                        The long graceful

                        Neck of the cello

                        And Carlotta’s

                        Sculpted legs

                        And curving hips

                        Move in time

                        With the music:

                        Excitement,

                        Plateau….

© David Cooper 2013

Coffee Grindin' Blues

Let me grind your coffee,

Let me grind your coffee,

‘Cause I’m a coffee grindin’ man

Had girl with a big behind

Had a girl with a big behind

I grind for three days

And the po’ girl she lost her mind

Yes, I’m a coffee grindin’ man

Said I’m a coffee grindin’ man

Let me grind your coffee

And you will understand.

Pretty redbone take her coffee with cream

Pretty redbone take her coffee with cream

Three days and all she could do was scream

Had a chocolate moma built for comfort not for speed

Had a chocolate moma built for comfort not for speed

When she shake her hips I get  all the lovin’ that a good man need

Yes, I’m a coffee grindin’ man

Said I’m a coffee grindin’ man

Let me grind your coffee

And you will understand.

Had a snow white gal with blond hair and eyes of blue

Had a snow white gal with blond hair and eyes of blue

When I grind her coffee she make her cream and sugar, too

Yes, I’m a coffee grindin’ man

Said I’m a coffee grindin’ man

Let me grind your coffee

And you will understand.