A Black Man Talks of Reaping - A poem by Arna Bontemps

Arna Bontemps - A Black Man Talks of Reaping

I have sown beside all waters in my day.
I planted deep, within my heart the fear
that wind or fowl would take the grain away.
I planted safe against this stark, lean year. 

I scattered seed enough to plant the land
in rows from Canada to Mexico
but for my reaping only what the hand
can hold at once is all that I can show.

Yet what I sowed and what the orchard yields
my brother's sons are gathering stalk and root;
small wonder then my children glean in fields
they have not sown, and feed on bitter fruit.

Added: on January 17th, 2008 at 7:04 PM | Viewed: 15420 times | Comments and analysis of A Black Man Talks of Reaping by Arna Bontemps Comments (8)

A Black Man Talks of Reaping - Comments and Information
Poet: Arna Bontemps Poem: A Black Man Talks of Reaping Poem of the Day: Aug 23 2000 Comment 8 of 8, added on May 7th, 2008 at 9:28 AM. Coming from a Japanese philosopher, I beleive this man is jeolous of his children. He plants the trees that take long to grow and then his children reap the fruit. Whan Ku Ping from Japan Comment 7 of 8, added on March 14th, 2008 at 1:29 PM. i love the way he uses words that explains us african americans i am 14 years old reading this poem encoraged me. i read arna bontems biography and he had problems with his dad, but in the end his dad was right and he became a famous man who wrote poems, plays and books just to say this is my favorate poem written by arna bontemps. i will never forget this poem. the poem of encouragment that will follow me through all my years. princess auna aka robbiauna from United States Comment 6 of 8, added on January 17th, 2008 at 7:04 PM. so i read this poem over and over but i still didnt get it. i was going through sites to help me find out what it means...it didnt help. i came across this site and i helped sooooooooo much!!! thanks :) alexis from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, A Black Man Talks of Reaping, has received 8 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Arna Bontemps with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: Arna Bontemps Poem: A Black Man Talks of Reaping Last read: Jul 24 2008, 1:26PM Poem of the Day: Aug 23 2000 Viewed 15420 times. Added on January 17th, 2008 at 7:04 PM.

Bontemps Info
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