And God said "… I'm lonely

I'll make me a world."

— James Weldon Johnson

"The Creation"

Tell us your stories

August Wilson
Remind us

of the voices you hear

Boy Willie

Ma Rainey

Aunt Esther's children
Bring forth for us

the visions you hear

King Hedley

Fences

Two Trains Running
Conjure up for us

Langston's words

"Life for me ain't been

no crystal stair, but

I's climbin"
August Wilson

keep dippin' your fingers

in the waters

Tell Freedom

We'z ready

Take our love

with you

Take our love
for Constanza

& all of us
Ths poem was commissioned by August Wilson's widow, and appeared in the memorial program from the tribute held at Seattle's Intiman Theater after Wilson's death in 2005. 

JT Stewart is the Seattle Review of Books Poet in Residence for February.