#copper sun

Copper Sun

Last week we brought you Harlem Renaissance poet Countee Cullen's (1903-1946) first major poem The Ballad of the Brown Girl. Today we present Cullen's second collected book of poetry, Copper Sun, published in New York by Harper & Brothers in 1927, with illustrations by the same artist who illustrated Ballad, the unrelated Art Deco artist Charles Cullen (1887-?). Copper Sun is a collection of over fifty poems that explore race, religion, and sexuality in Jazz Age America, and particularly the possibility of unity between white and black people, as exemplified in the two Cullens, one black, the other white.

View more work by Countee Cullen.

View other books illustrated by Charles Cullen.

What is Africa to me:

Copper sun or scarlet sea,

Jungle star or jungle track,

Strong bronzed men, or regal black

Women from whose loins I sprang

When the birds of Eden sang?

One three centuries removed

From the scenes his fathers loved,

Spicy grove, cinnamon tree,

What is Africa to me?

…

by Countee Cullen

…

*dumps a wheelbarrow full of headcanons onto you* CIEL X PENNY HEADCANONS!

When Ciel was first assigned to be Penny’s partner in the Vytal Festival, Ciel didn’t really think much of Penny at first. She thought she didn’t take everything as seriously as she should, and she also was wary of Penny’s tendency to try to sneak away to see friends. However, after spending some time with her and realizing how sweet and kind Penny is, Ciel softened to her little-by-little until eventually developing a crush on her.

Penny, on the other hand, fell for Ciel fast and hard the moment Ciel called her a friend (Penny’s the type to catch feelings the moment someone is even slightly affectionate towards her).

Neither of them confessed to each other at first. Penny was content with just spending time with Ciel because that’s all she wanted, but with every enthused hug and delighted smile Penny gave her, Ciel fell more and more in love with her until finally being unable to hold it all in anymore. Ciel confessed to Penny her feelings, and Penny didn’t even blink before reciprocating and agreeing to be her girlfriend.

Soon after this, Penny felt the need to confess that she was in android to Ciel. Ciel was confused at first, but never once did her love her Penny waver. She figured if she had fallen for Penny for the person she was, it didn’t matter what she was made off.

In an effort to avoid attracting attention from Penny’s guardians, they kept their relationship a secret. Penny explained to Ciel that she was worried that if the military knew they were dating, they might try to limit her time with her. “I should not be so distracted by dating, but I want to be with you as much as I possibly can.” Ciel always had mixed feelings about keeping their relationship a secret, but went along with it so they could spend more time together.

(Angsty one here but) When that happened at the tournament, Ciel was so distraught at the loss of her love, she didn’t have the heart to try to fight and defend Beacon. She evacuated and was inconsolable for the longest time. The girl who used to be so invested in timeliness started showing up late to classes at Atlas or not showing up at all. Some therapy helped her, but what really helped was when she learned that Penny was being rebuilt.

When Penny was brought back, Ciel was one of the first people to meet the new Penny. She was relieved to find that Penny was still the same happy girl she had always been. Unfortunately, since Penny was assigned to be the protector of Mantle, Ciel didn’t get to see her very often. But when she did, it was always the highlight of her days.

Name Randomizer: Ciel

Ciel: Crocs? Aren’t those, like...notoriously ugly shoes?

Neon: Hey, lay off the Crocs! They’re iconic! *shows off her hot pick Crocs* Crocs and socks babeyyyyy!

Ciel: So I have to wear those...for an entire week.

Neon: You’ll see, Ciel. Your eyes will be opened wide. Now, what color do you want, I have a whole collection.

Ciel: Uhh, blue?

Neon: Light blue, navy blue, sky blue...?

Yang: How many pairs of Crocs do you own, Neon??

Neon: Not enough! They’re a look and they go with everything!

Blake: Neon pulls it off so I trust her.

Neon: I am the Queen of Camp after all.

Yang: No one calls you that.

Neon: They should though! *finger guns at Ciel* I’ll BRB with your Crocs, babe. You are going to kill it. *leaves*

The next day, in the hallways between classes...

Penny: Ciel! You seem rather upbeat.

Ciel, smiling: I’ve been getting a lot of complements! People say I’m really cute in these Crocs Neon lent me.

Penny, looking down at them and nodding: I can see the appeal. They are by no means fashionable, but that is the point.

Ciel: Yeah, and they’re comfy. Although these are a little big on me, they sometimes just flop off my feet when I walk.

Penny: Perhaps we should get you a pair of your own!

Ciel: That would be fun!

Neon, watching on from the shadows, drumming her fingers together: Oh yes, join me on the dark side, Ciel. Embrace the ironic appeal...

Flynt, sighing, leaning against the wall behind her: Is this necessary? Or are you still salty that none of your teammates would be caught dead wearing Crocs?

Neon, pointing at him: Silence, fedora! And no, I’m am not salty. Do I look salty? Nah, I look fresh.

Flynt: You’re both. Salty and fresh, like a fish.

Neon: Now you’re making me hungry.

Flynt: Leave the poor girl alone, you’re going to corrupt her.

Neon: That’s the goal >:3