Evening Songs represent 100 years of poetry by African American female poets from or connected to Charleston. The earliest poet, Mary Weston Fordham, published a book of poetry; Magnolia Leaves, in 1897 from Charleston, which includes a preface by Booker T. Washington. Angelina Weld Grimké (1880-1958) was named after her great aunt the famous abolitionist, Angelina Grimké Weld from Charleston, who acknowledged and supported her mulatto nephew, Archibald, Angelina W. Grimké’s father. Angelina W. Grimké lived and taught in Washington DC where she was friends with another important Black Renaissance poet, playwright, and teacher, Georgia Douglas Johnson (1880-1966). Hermine Stanyard, a living Charleston poet, is a retired English teacher. Her book of poetry, Verses for you and me, was published in 1995.
Text
Trifle Georgia Douglas Johnson
Sleep Serenade Sleep Serenade
Tenebris Angelina Weld Grimke
Common Dust Georgia Douglas Johnson
Seed of Peace Hermine Stanyard