James Weldon Johnson, ed. (1871–1938). The Book of American Negro Poetry. 1922.

Lost Illusions

OH, for the veils of my far away youth,

Shielding my heart from the blaze of the truth,

Why did I stray from their shelter and grow

Into the sadness that follows—to know!

Impotent atom with desolate gaze

Threading the tumult of hazardous ways—

Oh, for the veils, for the veils of my youth

Veils that hung low o’er the blaze of the truth!