Unit 4: Selection Vocabulary 1

I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the
flow of human blood in human veins.

I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.

I’ve known rivers:
Ancient, dusky rivers.

They liked to hear me "speak pieces" and sing and wanted to see me dance the parse-me-la, and gave me generously of their small silver for doing these things, which seemed strange to me for I wanted to do them so much that I needed bribing to stop, only they didn't know it.

They deplored any joyful tendencies in me, but I was their Zora nevertheless.

Someone is always at my elbow reminding me that I am the granddaughter of slaves. It fails to register depression with me. Slavery is sixty years in the past. The operation was successful and the patient is doing well, thank you.

In the abrupt way that jazz orchestras have, this one plunges into a number. It loses no time in circumlocutions, but gets right down to business.

But in the main, I feel like a brown bag of miscellany propped against a wall. Against a wall in company with other bags, white, red and yellow. Pour out the contents, and there is discovered a jumble of small things priceless and worthless.

Troy: Your mama told me you done got recruited by a college football team? Is that right?

You go on and get your book-learning so you can work yourself up in that A&P or learn how to fix cars or build houses or something, get you a trade.

You go on and learn how to put your hands to some good use. Besides hauling people’s garbage.

Cory (hesitant): Cause you like me.

Troy (slow, methodical): Woman...I do the best I can do. I come home every Friday. I carry a sack of potatoes and a bucket of lard. You all line up at the door with your hands out. I give you the lint from my pockets. I give you my sweat and blood.