The following poem honoring the battle of Stalingrad, where the Soviet Union turned back the tide of Fascism during World War II, is by the great revolutionary African American poet, Langston Hughes:
Goodmorning, Stalingrad!
Lots of folks who don’t like you
Had give you up for dead.
But you ain’t dead!
Goodmorning, Stalingrad!
Where I live down in Dixie
Thinkgs is bad –
But they’re not so bad
I still can’t say,
Goodmorning Stalingrad!
And I’m not so dumb
I still don’t know
That as long as your red star
Lights the sky,
We won’t die.
Goodmorning Stalingrad!
You’re half a world away or more
But when your guns roar,
They roar for me –
And for everybody
who want to be free.
The Marxist-Leninist has previously posted music by FARC-EP musician Julian Conrado. These songs and poems are by Jaime Nevado.
“The FARC-EP guerrilleros play, sing, write poetry and books, tell stories, put on plays and paint, etc. The most sensitive men and women, reflecting the reality around us, transform our culture into an orally and visually attractive form, nourishing the patriotic and revolutionary sentiment of thousands of fighters, their friends and thousands of people who today listen to the songs, read books, recite poetry and watch films made by the guerrilleros … Culture occupies a very large space and plays an important role in the life of each guerrillero in the FARC-EP … There is a cultural hour from 7 to 8 p.m. in all guerrilla camps, when the public order situation permits. In this hour there may be a book reading, a lecture, the reading of a poem, singing, or a fiesta to dance the current rhythms and compositions of the guerrilleros. This is a space created so that culture is present in the struggle of our people.”
“Revolutionary culture is present and is nurtured by the people. It is the expression of rebellion charged with social content that has flourished in spite of everything throughout our history – in spite of the massacres, the bullets and the negation with which they think they can silence the voice of the people.”
In recognition of the Forth of July, I’m posting the following poem by the great revolutionary African American poet, Langston Hughes, “Let America Be America Again”. I encourage my readers to read some of Langston Hughes’ other radical poems, such as “Good Morning, Revolution”, “Put One More ‘S’ in the U.S.A.” and “Goodbye, Christ”:
Let America Be America Again
by Langston Hughes
Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.
Let it be the pioneer on the plain
Seeking a home where he himself is free.
Goodmorning, Stalingrad!
