Ah, My black one, Thou art not beautiful Yet thou hast A loveliness Surpassing beauty. Oh, My black one, Thou art not good Yet thou hast A purity Surpassing goodness. Ah, My black one, Thou art not luminous Yet an altar of jewels, An altar of shimmering jewels, Would pale in the light Of thy darkness, Pale in the light Of thy nightness. WHEN SUE WEARS RED When Susanna Jones wears red Her face is like an ancient cameo Turned brown by the ages. Come with a blast of trumpets, Jesus! When Susanna Jones wears red A queen from some time-dead Egyptian night Walks once again. Blow trumpets, Jesus! And the beauty of Susanna Jones in red Burns in my heart a love-fire sharp like pain. Sweet silver trumpets, Jesus! PIERROT I work all day, Said Simple John, Myself a house to buy. I work all day, Said Simple John, But Pierrot wondered why. For Pierrot loved the long white road, And Pierrot loved the moon, And Pierrot loved a star-filled sky, And the breath of a rose in June. I have one wife, Said Simple John, And, faith, I love her yet. I have one wife, Said Simple John, But Pierrot left Pierrette. For Pierrot saw a world of girls, And Pierrot loved each one, And Pierrot thought all maidens fair As flowers in the sun. Oh, I am good, Said Simple John, The Lord will take me in. Yes, I am good, Said Simple John, But Pierrot’s steeped in sin. For Pierrot played on a slim guitar, And Pierrot loved the moon, And Pierrot ran down the long white road With the burgher’s wife one June. ♦WATER FRONT STREETS ♦WATER FRONT STREETS The spring is not so beautiful there,— But dream ships sail away To where the spring is wondrous rare And life is gay. The spring is not so beautiful there,— But lads put out to sea Who carry beauties in their hearts And dreams, like me. ♦ “WATER-FRONT” replaced with “WATER FRONT” A FAREWELL With gypsies and sailors, Wanderers of the hills and seas, I go to seek my fortune. With pious folk and fair I must have a parting. But you will not miss me,— You who live between the hills And have never seen the seas. LONG TRIP The sea is a wilderness of waves, A desert of water. We dip and dive, Rise and roll, Hide and are hidden On the sea. Day, night, Night, day, The sea is a desert of waves, A wilderness of water. PORT TOWN Hello, sailor boy, In from the sea! Hello, sailor, Come with me!