Souls Grown Deep
Wednesday, February 3
Vernacular Writer
I went to see a folk art show called Souls Grown Deep:
African-American Vernacular Art of the South. I knew
the title was from Langston Hughes. His poem, “The Negro
Speaks of Rivers.” I had a business card made up
calling myself a vernacular writer. I wrote in the vernacular.
But also, vernacular comes from of native-born slaves.
A slave is an ambassador in bonds, who speaks boldly,
as one ought to speak. To his master. A poet does that.
