Black Humor in France: for Etha (with annotations) 2

Resource added
169

“wash your face”
though dried to somber at the sign
of white so deftly brown again.

Final sip was “All depends
which room you’re in I guess;
just don’t come up behind me;
makes me nervous since the war”; 
 but didn’t say when the war began
nor dare count all those faces,
clean and white,
that came up from behind

1969
1970

169

A View from the White Helmet

[*”A View from the White Helment”: Written at the start of the 1960’s, when the African nations were beginning to become free. Note that some African leaders received their education at oxford.*]

[*Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of the President of the USA, FDR, liked this poem, according to a City College colleague who knew her, William Turner Levy.*]

A glittering thing,
Africa-long
Approaches,
Gliding through legendary leaves,
Traversing ancient rivers.

A clattering thing,
Africa-long
Echoes,
Like bracelets of ivory

Full description

Poem written by Emanuel in 1969/1970, typed with additional notes handwritten in the margins. Dedicated to Etha, and within his own notes he claims the poem is based on a real incident. The poem details an encounter with whiteface. (Page 2)

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  • type
    Image
  • created on
  • file format
    jpg
  • file size
    639 kB
  • container title
    James A. Emanuel Papers
  • creator
    James A. Emanuel
  • issue
    BOX 5 FOLDER 12 "Whole Grain and Later Poems of James A. Emanuel (Annotated by the Auhtor), draft, part I, 1995 (2 of 2)
  • rights
    James A. Emanuel Estate
  • rights holder
    James A. Emanuel Estate
  • version
    1969/1970