BLANCHE TAYLOR DICKINSON

Jericho is on the inside Of the things the world likes best; “We want in,” the dark ones cried, “We will love it as the rest.” “Let me learn,” the dark ones say. They have learned that Faith must do More than meditate and pray That a boulder may fall through Making one large man size entrance Into wondrous Jericho. They have learned: forget the distance, Count no steps, nor stop to blow. Jericho still has her high wall, Futile barrier of Power.... Echoed with the dark ones’ footfall Marching around her every hour; Knowledge strapped down like a knapsack Not cumbersome, and money Not too much to strain the back.... Dark ones seeking milk and honey. Over in the city staring Up at us along the wall Are the fat ones, trembling, swearing There is no room there for us all! But there’ve been too many rounds Made to give the trip up here. Shout for joy ... hear how it sounds.... The very walls echo with cheer!

Ah, I know what happiness is...! It is a timid little fawn Creeping softly up to me For one caress, then gone Before I’m through with it ... Away, like dark from dawn! Well I know what happiness is...! It is the break of day that wears A shining dew decked diadem ... An aftermath of tears. Fawn and dawn, emblems of joy ... I’ve played with them for years, And always they will slip away Into the brush of another day.

She walked along the crowded street Forgetting all but that she Was walking as the other girls And dressed as carefully. The windows of the stores were frilled To lure femininity, To empty little pocketbooks And assuage queen vanity. And so my walker liked a dress Of silver and of gold, Draped on a bisque mannequin So blond and slim and bold. She took the precious metal home And waved her soft black hair; Powder, rouge and lipstick made Her very neat and fair. She slipped the dress on carefully, Her vain dream fell away.... The mirror showed a brownskin girl She hadn’t seen all day!

“You have classic features, Something like Cleopatra. Eyes like whirlpools And as dangerous.... Weeping willow eyelashes Shade the mighty depth Of your eyes. Your lips Are danger signals Which a fool like me Will not regard.... But go dashing past them To gain a kiss ... or Death.” That is what he said to me, I filled with a sweet and vain regret That Beauty, the stranger, and I had met. His praise was heat to drink me dry. So I found a stream, and with a sigh I stooped to drink ... ah, to see The cruel water reflecting me! Dark-eyed, thick-lipped, harsh, short hair ... But Lucifer saw himself, too, fair.

It crawled away from ’neath my feet And left me standing there; A little at a time, went up An atmospheric stair. I couldn’t go for watching it, To see where it would stop; A tree sprang out and waved to me When it had reached the top. The tree kept nodding friendly like, Beckoning me to follow; And I went crawling up and up, Like it did from the hollow. Then I saw why the thing would go A-soaring from the dell— ’Twas nearing Heaven every bound, And fleeing fast from Hell!

Chilled into a serenity As rigid as your pose You linger trustingly, But a gutter waits for you. Your elegance does not secure You favors with the sun. He is not one to pity fragileness. He thinks all cheeks should burn And feel how tears can run.

Four great walls have hemmed me in. Four strong, high walls: Right and wrong, Shall and shan’t. The mighty pillars tremble when My conscience palls And sings its song— I can, I can’t. If for a moment Samson’s strength Were given me I’d shove Them away from where I stand; Free, I know I’d love To ramble soul and all, And never dread to strike a wall. Again, I wonder would that be Such a happy state for me ... The going, being, doing, sham— And never knowing where I am. I might not love freedom at all; My tired wings might crave a wall— Four walls to rise and pen me in This conscious world with guarded men.