The city ran a black man,
He extinguished lanterns, climbing the ladder.
Slow, white dawn approached,
Together with a man climbing a ladder.
There, where they were quiet, soft shadows -
Yellow strip night lights -
Morning twilight fell on the stage,
They climbed into the curtains, the cracks of doors.
Brother, a pale city at dawn!
Black man crying in the yard
April 1903
