HOW SAMSON BORE AWAY THE GATES OF GAZA A Negro Sermon Once, in a night as black as ink, She drove him out when he would not drink. Round the house there were men in wait Asleep in rows by the Gaza gate. But the Holy Spirit was in this man. He lifted the gates up, post and lock. The air was black, like the smoke of a dragon. He sang like a shining golden fountain; He sweated up to the top of the mountain. He threw down the gates with a noise like judgment. But he wept: "I must not love tough queens, Oh, sorrow,, Sorrow, I cannot hide! O Lord, look down from your chariot side! Let Samson Be coming Into your mind. The moon shone out, the stars were gay He saw the foxes run and play. He rent his garments, he rolled around In deep repentance on the ground. Then he felt a honey in his soul; "My Lord, my Lord is riding high." Like a steed, he pawed the gates with his hoof; He rattled the gates like rocks on the roof, And danced in the night On the mountain-top; Danced in the deep of the night The Judge, the holy Nazarite, Whom ropes and chains could never bind. Let Samson Be coming Into your mind. Whirling his arms, like a top he sped; Let Samson Be coming Into your mind. Samson saw the sun anew. He left the gates in the grass and dew. - Philistine that no man could tame- Sorrow She was too wise! She cut off his hair, She put out his eyes. Let Samson Be coming Vachel Lindsay ON THE ROAD HROLF'S THRALL HIS SONG There be five things to a man's desire: Four things poor and homely be: Plow, shove deep through gray loam; DIFFERENCE There was one who hated, There was one who loved me I paid the punctual debt. |