# Poetry — Chapters explained > Chapter companions for Poetry by James Weldon Johnson. - [Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/lift-ev-ry-voice-and-sing.md): A hymn of resilience and hope, reflecting on the painful history of African Americans—from the dark past of slavery and suffering to the present dawn of liberty and faith. It calls for steadfastness, gratitude to God, an - [Fifty Years](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/fifty-years.md): On the fiftieth anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, the speaker reflects on the journey from slavery to freedom, the sacrifices and contributions of Black Americans, and the ongoing struggle for justice and equ - [To America](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/to-america.md): A poignant poetic inquiry into how America perceives its Black citizens, questioning whether they are seen as struggling under oppression, striving toward hope, or as mere objects. The poem contrasts resilience with desp - [O Black and Unknown Bards](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/o-black-and-unknown-bards.md): The poem celebrates the anonymous black slave bards who, despite their bondage and suffering, created spirituals of profound beauty, faith, and hope. It marvels at how they could produce such transcendent music from degr - [O Southland!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/o-southland.md): A poetic call to the Southland to awaken from its idle clinging to the past and join the forward march toward freedom and equality, emphasizing a new gospel of human solidarity and mutual aid. > 67 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=poetry_13_se_574kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest. - [To Horace Bumstead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/to-horace-bumstead.md) - [The Color Sergeant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/the-color-sergeant.md) - [The Black Mammy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/the-black-mammy.md) - [Father, Father Abraham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/father-father-abraham.md) - [Brothers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/brothers.md) - [Fragment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/fragment.md) - [The White Witch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/the-white-witch.md) - [Mother Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/mother-night.md) - [The Young Warrior](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/the-young-warrior.md) - [The Glory of the Day Was in Her Face](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/the-glory-of-the-day-was-in-her-face.md) - [From the Spanish](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/from-the-spanish.md) - [Before a Painting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/before-a-painting.md) - [I Hear the Stars Still Singing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/i-hear-the-stars-still-singing.md) - [Girl of Fifteen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/girl-of-fifteen.md) - [The Suicide](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/the-suicide.md) - [Down by the Carib Sea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/down-by-the-carib-sea.md) - [I: Sunrise in the Tropics](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/i-sunrise-in-the-tropics.md) - [II: Los Cigarillos](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/ii-los-cigarillos.md) - [III: Teestay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/iii-teestay.md) - [IV: The Lottery Girl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/iv-the-lottery-girl.md) - [V: The Dancing Girl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/v-the-dancing-girl.md) - [Sunset in the Tropics](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/vi-sunset-in-the-tropics.md) - [And the Greatest of These Is War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/and-the-greatest-of-these-is-war.md) - [A Mid-Day Dreamer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/a-mid-day-dreamer.md) - [The Temptress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/the-temptress.md) - [Ghosts of the Old Year](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/ghosts-of-the-old-year.md) - [The Ghost of Deacon Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/the-ghost-of-deacon-brown.md) - [Lazy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/lazy.md) - [Omar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/omar.md) - [Deep in the Quiet Wood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/deep-in-the-quiet-wood.md) - [Voluptas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/voluptas.md) - [The Word of an Engineer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/the-word-of-an-engineer.md) - [Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/life.md) - [Sleep](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/sleep.md) - [Prayer at Sunrise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/prayer-at-sunrise.md) - [The Gift to Sing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/the-gift-to-sing.md) - [Morning, Noon and Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/morning-noon-and-night.md) - [Her Eyes Twin Pools](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/her-eyes-twin-pools.md) - [The Awakening](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/the-awakening.md) - [Beauty That Is Never Old](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/beauty-that-is-never-old.md) - [Venus in a Garden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/venus-in-a-garden.md) - [Vashti](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/vashti.md) - [The Reward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/the-reward.md) - [Sence You Went Away](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/sence-you-went-away.md) - [Ma Lady’s Lips Am Like de Honey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/ma-lady-s-lips-am-like-de-honey.md) - [Tunk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/tunk.md) - [Nobody’s Lookin’ but de Owl and de Moon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/nobody-s-lookin-but-de-owl-and-de-moon.md) - [You's Sweet to Yo' Mammy Jes de Same](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/you-s-sweet-to-yo-mammy-jes-de-same.md) - [A Plantation Bacchanal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/a-plantation-bacchanal.md) - [July in Georgy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/july-in-georgy.md) - [A Banjo Song](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/a-banjo-song.md) - [Answer to Prayer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/answer-to-prayer.md) - [Dat Gal o' Mine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/dat-gal-o-mine.md) - [The Seasons](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/the-seasons.md) - ['Possum Song](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/possum-song.md) - [Brer Rabbit, You’s de Cutes’ of ’Em All](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/brer-rabbit-you-s-de-cutes-of-em-all.md) - [An Explanation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/an-explanation.md) - [De Little Pickaninny’s Gone to Sleep](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/de-little-pickaninny-s-gone-to-sleep.md) - [The Rivals](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/the-rivals.md) - [Listen Lord](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/listen-lord.md) - [The Creation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/the-creation.md) - [The Prodigal Son](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/the-prodigal-son.md) - [Go Down Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/go-down-death.md) - [Noah Built the Ark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/noah-built-the-ark.md) - [The Crucifixion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/the-crucifixion.md) - [Let My People Go](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/let-my-people-go.md) - [The Judgment Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/the-judgment-day.md) HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters