# Lawd — Poetry character guide

> Lawd in Poetry by James Weldon Johnson.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0064-listen-lord

## Who they are

God addressed in dialect prayer poems.

## In the story

### [Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/lift-ev-ry-voice-and-sing)

Addressed as 'God of our weary years' and 'God of our silent tears,' the divine guide who has led the people through hardship into light.

### [To Horace Bumstead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/to-horace-bumstead)

Implied as the divine figure on the throne, holding the Sword of Justice.

### [Prayer at Sunrise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/prayer-at-sunrise)

Addressed as the 'greater Maker' and 'Great Father of the sun' in the prayer.

### [Answer to Prayer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/answer-to-prayer)

The addressee of the speaker's prayers, who answers only when the prayer is phrased correctly.

### [Listen Lord](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/listen-lord)

The primary addressee of the prayer, invoked for mercy and intervention.

### [Go Down Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/go-down-death)

God, who looks down with pity, commands Death to bring Sister Caroline home.

### [Noah Built the Ark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/noah-built-the-ark)

God is portrayed as the creator who judges the wickedness of humanity, commands Noah to build the ark, and ultimately sends the flood.

### [Let My People Go](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/let-my-people-go)

Speaks to Moses from the burning bush; sends plagues; parts the Red Sea and destroys Pharaoh's army.

### [The Judgment Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/the-judgment-day)

God, who sits in the middle of the air to judge the quick and the dead, commands Gabriel, divides the sheep from the goats, and blots out time.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/characters/lawd
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_13_se/characters