S2 E14 Go Give the World

Posted byRebecca BuddPosted inPoetry in the Afternoon, Reading RoomTags:, , , ,

Welcome to my reading room!

My sister, Sarah, joined me for poetry recitation in the afternoon in a summer garden. She chose a poem by Otto Leland Bohanan “Go Give the World”.

According to LibriVox, “Otto Leland Bohanan was an African-American poet, composer, and singer. Born in Washington, DC, he graduated from Howard University and taught English at the Catholic University. At the time of his death he was a music teacher for DeWitt Clinton High School in New York City and was on the brink of achieving his life’s ambition of entering the concert field.”

Go Give the World

by Otto Leland Bohanan (1895 – 1932)

I do not crave to have thee mine alone, dear
Keeping thy charms within my jealous sight;
Go, give the world the blessing of thy beauty,
That other hearts may share of my delight!b

I do not ask, thy love should be mine only
While others falter through the dreary night;
Go, kiss the tears from some wayfarer’s vision,
That other eyes may know the joy of light!

Where days are sad and skies are hung with darkness,
Go, send a smile that sunshine may be rife;
Go, give a song, a word of kindly greeting,
To ease the sorrow of some lonely life!

Recitation by Sarah Ahmadi

Go Give the World by Otto Leland Bohanan – Rebecca's Reading Room

Published by Rebecca Budd

Blogger, Visual Storyteller, Podcaster, Traveler and Life-long Learner

12 thoughts on “S2 E14 Go Give the World”

    1. Sarah and I have a wonderful time discussing books and poetry, Liz. The words come alive, especially in a garden setting. We both receive a Poem-A-Day from Poets.org so we have wonderful public domain poetry upon which to draw.

      By the way, I go back to your April poetry reading event often, to listen again to the poets reading their poems. There is such a wonderful sense of being present in the moment. I especially appreciate your opening poem. I still have goosebumps when I hear to recite the words.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Many thanks for your heartwarming comments, Marian! A few years ago, Sarah and I signed up to Poem-A-Day at Poets.org. Just today I was introduced to the poet, Hazel Hall, who was born in 1886 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Then on other days, I am introduced to poets of today. I am fascinated by the recurring themes that are embedded in poetry.

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    1. Thank you, Mary Jo!! You are so encouraging. Sarah and I just recited a poem my Helen Hoyt yesterday. I had never heard of Helen Hoyt before I received an poem-a-day e-mail. I think her quote is spot on when the poem was published in 1915 and I think it still resonates today: “At present most of what we know, or think we know, of women has been found out by men, we have yet to hear what woman will tell of herself, and where can she tell more intimately than in poetry?” I continue to learn and learn….

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