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"Poetry for the People": Reading Garveyism through Poetry

and leave the rest for you

These lines imply that the colors of the rainbow should be shared; the poet takes ownership or lays claim to his own color, but he does not infringe on others' right to their share of the rainbow. Interestingly, these lines seem to conjure up an image of plenty and generosity on the one hand, but also ownership (and by extension, limits or scarcity) on the other.

This page is referenced by:

Give Me the Rainbow, by Prof. O.M. Skinner
If someone should make me an offer
Of something dear and real
And which should be a token good and true:
Something to suit my color.
And gives a hue for all,
I think I’ll choose the rainbow,
wouldn’t you?

Give me the rainbow,
The sign that is so true.
And let me take my color
And leave the rest for you.
For all of such, you find so much.
So give me the rainbow true
No token is more truer:
No emblem can be so dear;
The one true sign of promise we are told.
And if I have the rainbow
Life sorrows when it rains
Will find the rainbow sucking free and bold.
Prof. O. M. Skinner.

From the March 5, 1921 issue.