Go Give the World

I do not crave to have thee mine alone, dear
   Keeping thy charms within my jealous sight;
Go, give the world the blessing of thy beauty,
   That other hearts may share of my delight!

I do not ask, thy love should be mine only
   While others falter through the dreary night;
Go, kiss the tears from some wayfarer’s vision, 
   That other eyes may know the joy of light!

Where days are sad and skies are hung with darkness, 
   Go, send a smile that sunshine may be rife;
Go, give a song, a word of kindly greeting, 
   To ease the sorrow of some lonely life!

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“Go Give the World” originally appeared in the March 1919 issue of The Crisis.

Black Lives Matter Anthology

“We’re hoarding us
in our stories.”

—“No, Kanye, it’s not LIKE we’re mentally in prison” by Erica Dawson