Dear Death: I got your message That my son is dead. The ink you used To write it Is the blood he bled. You say he died with honor On the battlefield, And that I am honored, too, By this bloody yield. Your letter Signed in blood, With his blood Is sealed.
The Face of War
[incomplete]Song Cycle by Elie Siegmeister (1909 - 1991)
1. Official notice
Language: English
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Official notice", appears in The Panther and the Lash, first published 1967
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]2. Listen here, Joe
Language: English
Listen here, Joe Don't you know That tomorrow You got to go Out yonder where The steel winds blow? Listen here, kid, It's been said Tomorrow you'll be dead Out there where The rain is lead. Don't ask me why. Just go ahead and die. Hidden from the sky Out yonder you'll lie: A medal to your family -- In exchange for A guy. Mama, don't cry.
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Without benefit of declaration", appears in The Panther and the Lash, first published 1967
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]3. Peace
Language: English
We passed their graves: The dead men there, Winners or losers, Did not care. In the dark They could not see Who had gained The victory.
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Peace", appears in The Panther and the Lash, first published 1967
See other settings of this text.
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]4. The dove
Language: English
...and here is old Picasso and the dove and dreams as fragile as pottery with dove in white on clay dark brown as earth is brown from our old battle ground...
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "The dove", appears in The Panther and the Lash, first published 1967
See other settings of this text.
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]5. War
Language: English
The face of war is my face.
The face of war is your face.
What color
Is the face
Of war?
Brown, black, white--
Your face and my face.
Death is the broom
I take in my hands
To sweep the world
Clean.
I sweep and I sweep
Then mop and I mop.
I dip my broom in blood,
My mop in blood--
And blame you for this,
Because you are there,
Enemy.
It's hard to blame me,
Because I am here
So I kill you.
And you kill me.
My name,
Like your name,
Is war.
Text Authorship:
- by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "War", appears in The Panther and the Lash, first published 1967
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]Total word count: 272