Night funeral <br />In Harlem: <br /> <br />Where did they get <br />Them two fine cars? <br /> <br />Insurance man, he did not pay-- <br />His insurance lapsed the other day-- <br />Yet they got a satin box <br />for his head to lay. <br /> <br />Night funeral <br />In Harlem: <br /> <br />Who was it sent <br />That wreath of flowers? <br /> <br />Them flowers came <br />from that poor boy's friends-- <br />They'll want flowers, too, <br />When they meet their ends. <br /> <br />Night funeral <br />in Harlem: <br /> <br />Who preached that <br />Black boy to his grave? <br /> <br />Old preacher man <br />Preached that boy away-- <br />Charged Five Dollars <br />His girl friend had to pay. <br /> <br />Night funeral <br />In Harlem: <br /> <br />When it was all over <br />And the lid shut on his head <br />and the organ had done played <br />and the last prayers been said <br />and six pallbearers <br />Carried him out for dead <br />And off down Lenox Avenue <br />That long black hearse done sped, <br />The street light <br />At his corner <br />Shined just like a tear-- <br />That boy that they was mournin' <br />Was so dear, so dear <br />To them folks that brought the flowers, <br />To that girl who paid the preacher man-- <br />It was all their tears that made <br />That poor boy's <br />Funeral grand. <br /> <br />Night funeral <br />In Harlem.<br /><br />Langston Hughes<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/night-funeral-in-harlem/
