| James Weldon Johnson, ed. (1871–1938). The Book of American Negro Poetry. 1922. |
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| Chaucer |
| | | Benjamin Brawley |
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| GONE are the sensuous stars, and manifold, | |
| Clear sunbeams burst upon the front of night; | |
| Ten thousand swords of azure and of gold | |
| Give darkness to the dark and welcome light; | |
| Across the night of ages strike the gleams, | 5 |
| And leading on the gilded host appears | |
| An old man writing in a book of dreams, | |
| And telling tales of lovers for the years; | |
| Still Troilus hears a voice that whispers, Stay; | |
| In Nature’s garden what a mad rout sings! | 10 |
| Let’s hear these motley pilgrims wile away | |
| The tedious hours with stories of old things; | |
| Or might some shining eagle claim | |
| These lowly numbers for the House of Fame! | |
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