With melted opals for my milk, Pearl-leaf for my cracker. Gwendolyn Brooks More Quotes by Gwendolyn Brooks More Quotes From Gwendolyn Brooks I don't like the idea of the black race being diluted out of existence. I like the idea of all of us being here. Gwendolyn Brooks black race ideas It is brave to be involved Gwendolyn Brooks brave courage justice Very early in life I became fascinated with the wonders language can achieve. And I began playing with words. Gwendolyn Brooks achieve language wonder I think it must be lonely to be God. Gwendolyn Brooks lonely loneliness god There can be no whiter whiteness than this one: An insurance man's shirt on its morning run. Gwendolyn Brooks running morning men The forties and fifties were years of high poet-incense; the language-flowers were thickly sweet. Those flowers whined and begged white folks to pick them, to find them lovable. Then the '60s: Independent fire! Gwendolyn Brooks independent flower sweet Life for my child is simple, and is good. Gwendolyn Brooks simplicity simple children I shall create! If not a note, a hole./If not an overture, a desecration. Gwendolyn Brooks holes notes ifs I tell poets that when a line just floats into your head, don't pay attention 'cause it probably has floated into somebody else's head. Gwendolyn Brooks lines poetry pay My last defense / Is the present tense. Gwendolyn Brooks defense lasts live-in-the-moment It frightens me to realize that, if I had died before the age of fifty, I would have died a 'Negro' fraction. Gwendolyn Brooks racism age fifty The music is in minors. Gwendolyn Brooks musician music-is music Do not be afraid of no, Gwendolyn Brooks Life must be aromatic. Gwendolyn Brooks scent life She was afraid to suggest to him that to most people, nothing "happens." That most people merely live from day to day until they die. That, after he had been dead a year, doubtless fewer than five people would think of him oftener than once a year. That there might even come a year when no one on earth would think of him at all. Gwendolyn Brooks people years thinking I don't want people running around saying Gwen Brooks's work is intellectual. That makes people think instantly about obscurity. It shouldn't have to mean that, but it often seems to. Gwendolyn Brooks running mean thinking There are no magics or elves / Or timely godmothers to guide us. We are lost, must / Wizard a track through our own screaming weed. Gwendolyn Brooks track weed survival Nothing could stop Mississippi. Gwendolyn Brooks mississippi I've always thought of myself as a reporter. Gwendolyn Brooks reporters Already I am no longer looked at with lechery or love. Gwendolyn Brooks lechery