[ Lena Horne (1917- 2010)The iconic and actress career
spanned six decades helping to break down racial barriers
for women of colour in Hollywood. She refused to play the
role of the maid.and orher minor parts primarily played by
coloured people, in the movies..


THE DIVA IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE DIVA

Goddess of Beauty! Singer of Songs!
Graced with voice, sweeter than the flute!
Gorgeous she was like the goddess , Aphrodite,
She had the fine arts of graceful Minerva,
Like lovely Venus the spirit of love.


More beautiful beyond compare
Than the marbled angels of Michael Angelo;
Magical was her honeyed voice,
She was a flower of fragrant delight.
Amidst rocky mountains , deep valleys.
Crevasses and turbulent streams.


Melodiously, when she warbled in Stormy Weather,
Her first big break catapulted her to fame,
More sweetly than the sirens she sang.
Men’s hearts missed their beat to the tunes,
Women screamed and fainted in lovers’ arms.
She was more majestic than a queen,
And though discrimnation formed a citadel.
She broke down the ramparts.
And raised to herself a pedestal!


Bravely she defended civil rights.
Like Athena, the goddess of war,
She stood beside the black King, valiant,
With invisible helmet, spear and shield,
When he declared. I have a Dream
Of equal rights for all, justice one day
will overcome, And children of every race
Will climb the mountain arm in arm.


She befriended the black luminaries,.
Paul Robeson and WEB Dubois;
Yet like Minerva found time for family life;
Uplifted black youthful performers,
Was a trailblazer for all women,;
She was a championess of liberty.


She was a fountain of hopeful dreams,
She was a patroness of opportunity.
May she recline in the gardens of Elysium,
Attended by the nine sybaritic Muses.
May she enter the pearly gates of heaven;
The diva is dead! Long live the diva!
Brooklyn born, Lena Horne her queenly name.

Last edited by cousinsoren 05-19-2010 at 08:13:24 PM