> [!cite]- Metadata > 2025-07-24 19:55 > Status: > Tags: `Read Time: 53s` > Amiri Baraka (born Everett Leroy Jones; October 7, 1934 – January 9, 2014) was an American writer of poetry, drama, fiction, essays, and music criticism. He was an influential figure in the Black Arts Movement and served as poet laureate of his native New Jersey. Baraka's works presented the experiences and suppressed anger of Black Americans in a white-dominated society. ### Preface To A Twenty Volume Suicide Note Lately, I've become accustomed to the way The ground opens up and envelopes me Each time I go out to walk the dog. Or the broad edged silly music the wind Makes when I run for a bus... Things have come to that. And now, each night I count the stars. And each night I get the same number. And when they will not come to be counted, I count the holes they leave. Nobody sings anymore. And then last night I tiptoed up To my daughter's room and heard her Talking to someone, and when I opened The door, there was no one there... Only she on her knees, peeking into Her own clasped hands --- ### **References** [Preface To A Twenty Volume Suicide Note - poem by Amiri Baraka | PoetryVerse](https://www.poetryverse.com/amiri-baraka-poems/preface-twenty-volume-suicide-note)