The Poetry Stash: 18Feb2024

Amen by James Baldwin

Today’s poem is “Amen” by James Baldwin from the collection, Jimmy’s Blues and Other Poems. The book is available for purchase here.

Amen by James Baldwin

No, I don’t feel death coming.
I feel death going:
having thrown up his hands,
for the moment.

I feel like I know him
better than I did.
Those arms held me,
for a while,
and, when we meet again,
there will be that secret knowledge
between us. 

Prompts:

1.	Begin with “I don’t feel…”
2.	Begin with “I feel…”
3.	Give an abstract term like death, love, anger, etc. human traits such as language and gesture. Draft a dialogue between you and the term. Draft a conversation between two terms, for example: death and possibility or love and regret.
4.	Describe an experience when you thought you might die.
5.	Write a prayer.

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