Abortions Will Not Let You

I Don't Like The Idea Of The Black Race Being Diluted Out Of Existence. I Like The Idea Of All Of Us Being Here.

I Like The Concentration, The Crush; I Like Working With Language, As Others Like Working With Clay, Or Notes.

With Melted Opals For My Milk, Pearl-leaf For My Cracker.

It Frightens Me To Realize That, If I Had Died Before The Age Of Fifty, I Would Have Died A 'negro' Fraction.

I Tell Poets That When A Line Just Floats Into Your Head, Don't Pay Attention 'cause It Probably Has Floated Into Somebody Else's Head.