Canal Street at Noon

Books by Marcus Bruce Christian

Song of the Black Valiants: Marching Tempo / High Ground: A Collection of Poems / Negro soldiers in the Battle of New Orleans

I am New Orleans: A Poem / Negro Iron Workers of Louisiana: 1718-1900 / The Liberty Monument

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Canal Street at Noon

By Marcus B. Christian

Down the street come the great "By-Gods"

   With hat and coat and cane;

Up the street come the little "My -Gods"

   To struggle and strive again.

Strutting along are the "You-Laugh-I-Frowns" --

   Suits new, shoes shiny-black;

Across the street trot the "Yassum-Miss-Browns" --

   Each with a hump in his back.

Sleek autos honk and the street-cars roar --

   It's a very busy street;

Canal Street is taking its lunch once more --

   All animals must eat.

Source: I Am New Orleans & Other Poems By Marcus B. Christian edited by Rudolph Lewis & Amin Sharif

Previous Next

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Selected Letters Selected Diary Notes

Memories of Marcus B. Christian (Cains) Christian's BioBibliographical Record Introduction to I AM NEW ORLEANS

A Theory of a Black Aesthetic Magpies, Goddesses, & Black Male Identity

Activist Works on Next Level of Change Intro to I Am New Orleans Letter from Dillard University

A Labor of Genuine Love Letter of Gift of Photos Letters from LSU and Skip Gates

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Negro Iron Workers of Louisiana: 1718-1900

By Marcus Bruce Christian

Study of the blacksmith tradition and New Orleans famous lace balconies and fences.

Acclaimed during his life as the unofficial poet laureate of the New Orleans African-American community, Marcus Christian recorded a distinguished career as historian, journalist, and literary scholar. He was a contributor to Pelican's Gumbo Ya Ya, and also wrote many articles that appeared in numerous newspapers, journals, and general-interest publications.

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