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Arna Wendall Bontemps

I lived from 1902-1973. I was from the United States, and am in the Americas category.

Arna Wendell Bontemps was born in Alexandria, Louisiana in 1902. He grew up in California, graduated from Pacific Union College, and accepted a teaching position in Harlem at the height of the Harlem Renaissance. In 1926 and 1927 he won first prizes on three occasions in contests with other "New Negro" poets. He also married to Alberta Johnson in '27. They had six children. He collaborated with Langston Hughes on several books of poetry. He also taught at Fisk, The University of Illinois, and Yale. Aaron Douglas noted that he deserved to be known much better than he has been. Arnold Rampersad called him; "the conscience of his era".

My poetry

  • A Black Man Talks Of Reaping
    I have sown beside all waters in my day.
    I planted deep, within my heart the fear
    13 lines
  • Length Of Moon
    Then the golden hour
    Will tick its last
    12 lines
  • Southern Mansion
    Poplars are standing there still as death
    And ghosts of dead men
    16 lines
  • Nocturne Of The Wharves
    All night they whine upon their ropes and boom
    against the dock with helpless prows:
    26 lines
  • The Day-Breakers
    We are not come to wage a strife
    With swords upon this hill,
    6 lines
  • Reconnaissance
    After the cloud embankments,
    the lamentation of wind
    15 lines
  • God GiveTo Men
    God give the yellow man
    an easy breeze at blossom time.
    17 lines

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