Content of: "Hope" || Poem by Georgia Douglas Johnson (1917)
Frail children of sorrow, dethroned by a hue,
The shadows are flecked by the rose sifting through,
The world has its motion, all things pass away;
No night is omnipotent, there must be day!
The oak tarries long in the depths of the seed
But swift is the season of nettle and weed,
Abide yet awhile in the mellowing shade
And rise with the hour for which you were made.
The cycle of seasons, the tidals of man,
Revolve in the orb of the infinite plan;
We move to the rhythm of ages long done,
And each has his hour — to dwell in the sun!
Georgia Douglas Johnson was an American poet, playwright, educator, and one of the most influential African American women writers of the early twentieth century. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, she became a prominent voice of the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement that celebrated African American literature, art, and music. Her poetry explored themes of love, loneliness, race, and the experiences of women in American society. Johnson also wrote numerous plays that addressed social and racial issues. From her home in Washington, D.C., she hosted literary gatherings that supported emerging Black writers. Her work and advocacy helped shape American literature and continue to inspire readers and scholars today.
