Robert Hayden

Here you will find the Poem O Daedalus, Fly Away Home of poet Robert Hayden

O Daedalus, Fly Away Home

For Maia and Julie) 

Drifting night in the Georgia pines, 
coonskin drum and jubilee banjo. 
Pretty Malinda, dance with me. 

Night is juba, night is congo. 
Pretty Malinda, dance with me. 

Night is an African juju man 
weaving a wish and a weariness together 
to make two wings. 

O fly away home fly away 

Do you remember Africa? 

O cleave the air fly away home 

My gran, he flew back to Africa, 
just spread his arms and 
flew away home. 

Drifting night in the windy pines; 
night is laughing, night is a longing. 
Pretty Malinda, come to me. 

Night is a mourning juju man 
weaving a wish and a weariness together 
to make two wings. 

O fly away home fly away