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SONG FOR BILLIE HOLIDAY, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: What can purge my heart
Last Line: Where?
Alternate Author Name(s): Hughes, Langston
Subject(s): African Americans; Jazz; Music & Musicians; Negroes; American Blacks


What can purge my heart
Of the song
And the sadness?
What can purge my heart
But the song
Of the sadness?
What can purge my heart
Of the sadness
Of the song?
Do not speak of sorrow
With dust in her hair,
Or bits of dust in eyes
A chance wind blows there.
The sorrow that I speak of
Is dusted with despair.
Voice of muted trumpet,
Cold brass in warm air.
Bitter television blurred
By sound that shimmers--
Where?





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