Love

By Their Fruits

by Countee Cullen 1903–1946

From The Black Christ & Other Poems (1929)

Love

I know a lover when I see one,
And I can tell the way they fare:
If those they dote on shed some sun,
Or blow a cool and languid air.

Those that are loved, though niggardly,
Move with a lively foot and eye;
The others drag like men who see
Their day and minute set to die.

MLA

Cullen, Countee. “By Their Fruits.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/cullen/88/.

Chicago

Cullen, Countee. “By Their Fruits.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/cullen/88/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Countee Cullen