the negro speaks of rivers
by langston hughes
i've known rivers:
I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the
flow of human blood in human veins.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

I bathed in the euphrates when dawns were young.
I built my hut near the congo and it lulled me to sleep.
I looked upon the nile and raised the pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of the mississippi when abe lincoln
went down to new orleans, and i've seen its muddy
bosom turn all golden in the sunset.

I've known rivers:
Ancient, dusky rivers.