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July 5, 2023French Leave
July 5, 2023I Know My Soul
I plucked my soul out of its secret place,
And held it to the mirror of my eye,
To see it like a star against the sky,
A twitching body quivering in space,
A spark of passion shining on my face.
And I explored it to determine why
This awful key to my infinity
Conspires to rob me of sweet joy and grace.
And if the sign may not be fully read,
If I can comprehend but not control,
I need not gloom my days with futile dread,
Because I see a part and not the whole.
Contemplating the strange, I’m comforted
By this narcotic thought: I know my soul.
Claude McKay
Claude McKay (1889-1948) was a Jamaican poet, novelist, and social activist who was a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance. His work often explores the experiences of black people in America and Jamaica, as well as issues of race, colonialism, and identity. His notable works include "Songs of Jamaica," "Banjo," and "Harlem Shadows."