Nature

Home Thoughts

by Claude McKay 1889–1948

From Harlem Shadows

Nature

Oh something just now must be happening there!
That suddenly and quiveringly here,
Amid the city’s noises, I must think
Of mangoes leaning o’er the river’s brink,
And dexterous Davie climbing high above,
The gold fruits ebon-speckled to remove,
And toss them quickly in the tangled mass
Of wis-wis twisted round the guinea grass;
And Cyril coming through the bramble-track
A prize bunch of bananas on his back;
And Georgie--none could ever dive like him--
Throwing his scanty clothes off for a swim;
And schoolboys, from Bridge-tunnel going home,
Watching the waters downward dash and foam.
This is no daytime dream, there’s something in it,
Oh something’s happening there this very minute!

MLA

McKay, Claude. “Home Thoughts.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/mckay/6/.

Chicago

McKay, Claude. “Home Thoughts.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/mckay/6/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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