Celebrating Leopold Senghor’s birthday with 10 of his greatest quotes

Francis Akhalbey October 09, 2020
Celebrating Leopold Senghor’s birthday with 10 of his greatest quotes
Photo Credit: Poetryfoundation.org

New York! I say New York, let black blood flow into your blood.

Let it wash the rust from your steel joints, like an oil of life

Let it give your bridges the curve of hips and supple vines.

Now the ancient age returns, unity is restored,

The recociliation of the Lion and Bull and Tree

Idea links to action, the ear to the heart, sign to meaning.

See your rivers stirring with musk alligators

And sea cows with mirage eyes. No need to invent the Sirens.

Just open your eyes to the April rainbow

And your eyes, especially your ears, to God

Who in one burst of saxophone laughter

Created heaven and earth in six days,

And on the seventh slept a deep Negro sleep.

Last Edited by:Mildred Europa Taylor Updated: October 9, 2020

Conversations

Must Read

Connect with us

Join our Mailing List to Receive Updates