Reviews

Dark Testament: And Other Poems by Pauli Murray

Only show reviews with written explanations

kevinhendricks's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

No matter how hard I try, I just can't get into poetry.

eitaknnif's review

Go to review page

challenging emotional inspiring slow-paced

jessikahepburn's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Hope is a crushed stalk
Between clenched fingers
Hope is a bird’s wing
Broken by a stone.
Hope is a word in a tuneless ditty —
A word whispered with the wind,
A dream of forty acres and a mule,
A cabin of one’s own and a moment to rest,
A name and place for one’s children
And children’s children at last...
Hope is a song in a weary throat.
Give me a song of hope
And a world where I can sing it.
Give me a song of faith
And a people to believe in it.
Give me a song of kindliness
And a country where I can live it.
Give me a song of hope and love
And a brown girl’s heart to hear it.

-Pauli Murray, Dark Testament and other poems

jacobinreads's review

Go to review page

5.0

This is an incredible work of poetry. Pauli Murray stands with both sympathetic feet grounded in the mires of the world, and a mind and words which stretch up to heaven. Combining prophetic visions of a world reborn, and withering condemnation of the tyrannies and oppressions of the world as it stands now; tender, personal reflections and soft wishes meet grand sweeping visions of history and the self. This is a masterwork of contradiction, of beautiful symmetry, and of a kind, reflective mood- alongside clarion calls to realise the dignity of all. This is a treasure, one I will definitely read again.