From 1934 until the end of his life, he taught English, French, and creative writing at Frederick Douglass Junior High School in New York City. During this period, he also wrote two works for young readers: "The Lost Zoo" (1940), poems about the animals who were killed in the Flood, and "My Lives and How I Lost Them", an autobiography of his cat. Along with Herman W. Porter, he also provided guidance to a young James Baldwin during his time at the school.