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爻蹖丕賴 賴賲趩賵賳 丕毓賲丕賯 丌賮乇蹖賯丕蹖 禺賵丿賲
The poems in this volume were chosen by Hughes himself shortly before his death in 1967 and encompass work from his entire career. His poetry launched a revolution among black writers in America.
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First published January 1, 1959
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About the author
Langston Hughes
582听books2,099听followersThrough poetry, prose, and drama, American writer James Langston Hughes made important contributions to the Harlem renaissance; his best-known works include
Weary Blues
(1926) and
The Ways of White Folks
(1934).
People best know this social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist James Mercer Langston Hughes, one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form jazz poetry, for his famous written work about the period, when "Harlem was in vogue."
People best know this social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist James Mercer Langston Hughes, one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form jazz poetry, for his famous written work about the period, when "Harlem was in vogue."
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February 7, 2017
Langston Hughes was one of America's master writers of the twentieth century. For over forty years, he used his time to write, lecture, and promote better conditions for African Americans through his work. Most known for his poetry, Hughes also wrote a variety of works including song lyrics, a play, and an autobiography. Hughes chose the poems in Selected Poems shortly before his death in 1967 and included most of his well known work. Selected Poems is collection befitting of an American master.
I remember reading "Mother to Son" when I was in school. We had to analyze it and then use the style to write our own poetry. The last line still stands out for me, "life ain't been no crystal stair." Hughes discusses how the African American experience has been full of hardships. In this particular poem he has a mother convey to her son to work extra hard so he has the opportunity to make something more of his life. In the same section, a family throws a celebration for Mary Lou Jackson because she received a diploma and can now get a job. Even if it is low level job, at least she will be earning money and assisting her family.
Unfortunately, life was rarely a crystal stair for African Americans when Hughes wrote the majority of his poetry. A line that is still recognized today is "if you're white, you're all right...if you're black, Get back!" This was written when the Migration north and west was beginning. Hughes writes of the poor conditions of the south and how African Americans rode a freedom train out of this sometimes horrid existence. He goes on to describe the contrast of the bright lights in Harlem and Chicago to the fear of being lynched and killed just for being black in the South. Even though the Migration was just picking up steam at the time when he wrote, Hughes recognized the opportunity for freedom for his people and encouraged them to move in his writing.
The plight of African Americans can best be summed up in Hughes' ending two sections. His montage of a dream deferred explains how a man can to keep dropping out of school to help his family and then was held back a grade when they moved north. Finally at age twenty he is ready to graduate and he feels too old to first be starting out in life. Hughes ends the collection with powerful words by quoting Jefferson, Lincoln, and Frederick Douglass. "Better to die free, than to live slaves," he motivates his people, and "Keep your hand on the plow! Hold on!" The American dream is for all people as long as they keep a positive outlook on life and make the best of the opportunities granted them.
I am participating in an African American history month challenge this year, and I have both fiction and nonfiction books lined up to read. I am glad that I started the month with poetry written by a true American master. Hughes voice speaks of the raw emotions of what African Americans experienced and he used his voice as a platform to better their conditions. A powerful collection, I rate Langston Hughes' Selected Poems a full 5 bright stars.
I remember reading "Mother to Son" when I was in school. We had to analyze it and then use the style to write our own poetry. The last line still stands out for me, "life ain't been no crystal stair." Hughes discusses how the African American experience has been full of hardships. In this particular poem he has a mother convey to her son to work extra hard so he has the opportunity to make something more of his life. In the same section, a family throws a celebration for Mary Lou Jackson because she received a diploma and can now get a job. Even if it is low level job, at least she will be earning money and assisting her family.
Unfortunately, life was rarely a crystal stair for African Americans when Hughes wrote the majority of his poetry. A line that is still recognized today is "if you're white, you're all right...if you're black, Get back!" This was written when the Migration north and west was beginning. Hughes writes of the poor conditions of the south and how African Americans rode a freedom train out of this sometimes horrid existence. He goes on to describe the contrast of the bright lights in Harlem and Chicago to the fear of being lynched and killed just for being black in the South. Even though the Migration was just picking up steam at the time when he wrote, Hughes recognized the opportunity for freedom for his people and encouraged them to move in his writing.
The plight of African Americans can best be summed up in Hughes' ending two sections. His montage of a dream deferred explains how a man can to keep dropping out of school to help his family and then was held back a grade when they moved north. Finally at age twenty he is ready to graduate and he feels too old to first be starting out in life. Hughes ends the collection with powerful words by quoting Jefferson, Lincoln, and Frederick Douglass. "Better to die free, than to live slaves," he motivates his people, and "Keep your hand on the plow! Hold on!" The American dream is for all people as long as they keep a positive outlook on life and make the best of the opportunities granted them.
I am participating in an African American history month challenge this year, and I have both fiction and nonfiction books lined up to read. I am glad that I started the month with poetry written by a true American master. Hughes voice speaks of the raw emotions of what African Americans experienced and he used his voice as a platform to better their conditions. A powerful collection, I rate Langston Hughes' Selected Poems a full 5 bright stars.
April 19, 2021
Selected Poems of Langston Hughes, Langston Hughes
The poems in this collection were chosen by Hughes himself shortly before his death in 1967 and represent work from his entire career.
Including:
The Negro Speaks of Rivers,
The Weary Blues,
Still Here,
Song for a Dark Girl,
Montage of a Dream Deferred,
and Refugee in America.
It gives us a poet of extraordinary range, directness, and stylistic virtuosity.
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 爻倬鬲丕賲亘乇 爻丕賱 1978賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳: 爻蹖丕賴 賴賲趩賵賳 丕毓賲丕賯 丌賮乇蹖賯丕蹖 禺賵丿賲貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 賱賳诏爻鬲賵賳 賴蹖賵夭貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 丕丨賲丿 卮丕賲賱賵貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 丕亘鬲讴丕乇貙 1351貙 丿乇 64氐貨 賲賵囟賵毓 卮毓乇 卮丕毓乇丕賳 丕蹖丕賱丕鬲 賲鬲丨丿賴 丌賲乇蹖讴丕 - 爻丿賴 20
乇賵丕賳卮丕丿 芦賱賳诏爻鬲賳 賴蹖賵夭禄 卮丕毓乇蹖 爻蹖丕賴 倬賵爻鬲 賵 芦丌賲乇蹖讴丕蹖蹖禄 亘賵丿賳丿貨 丕蹖卮丕賳 丿乇 丕卮毓丕乇 賵 賳賵卮鬲賴 賴丕 賵 爻乇賵丿賴 賴丕蹖卮丕賳貙 亘蹖卮鬲乇 丕夭 芦賴丕乇賱賲禄貙 芦賲賳丕胤賯 噩賳賵亘禄貙 芦鬲亘毓蹖囟丕鬲 賳跇丕丿蹖禄貙 芦丕丨爻丕爻 睾乇亘鬲禄貙 賵 丿乇 賴賲丕賳 丨丕賱 丕夭 芦睾乇賵乇 賵 賳禺賵鬲 爻蹖丕賴丕賳禄 賲蹖爻乇丕蹖賳丿 (賳賯賱 亘賴 賲囟賲賵賳 丕夭 賲賯丿賲賴 蹖 讴鬲丕亘)貨
亘诏匕丕乇蹖丿 丕蹖賳 賵胤賳 丿賵亘丕乇賴 賵胤賳 卮賵丿
賳诏匕丕乇蹖丿 丿賵亘丕乇賴 賴賲丕賳 乇賵蹖丕蹖蹖 卮賵丿 讴賴 亘賵丿
亘诏匕丕乇蹖丿 倬蹖卮丕賴賳诏 丿卮鬲 卮賵丿
賵
....
鬲丕乇蹖禺 亘賴賳诏丕賲 乇爻丕賳蹖 29/01/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
The poems in this collection were chosen by Hughes himself shortly before his death in 1967 and represent work from his entire career.
Including:
The Negro Speaks of Rivers,
The Weary Blues,
Still Here,
Song for a Dark Girl,
Montage of a Dream Deferred,
and Refugee in America.
It gives us a poet of extraordinary range, directness, and stylistic virtuosity.
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 爻倬鬲丕賲亘乇 爻丕賱 1978賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳: 爻蹖丕賴 賴賲趩賵賳 丕毓賲丕賯 丌賮乇蹖賯丕蹖 禺賵丿賲貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 賱賳诏爻鬲賵賳 賴蹖賵夭貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 丕丨賲丿 卮丕賲賱賵貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 丕亘鬲讴丕乇貙 1351貙 丿乇 64氐貨 賲賵囟賵毓 卮毓乇 卮丕毓乇丕賳 丕蹖丕賱丕鬲 賲鬲丨丿賴 丌賲乇蹖讴丕 - 爻丿賴 20
乇賵丕賳卮丕丿 芦賱賳诏爻鬲賳 賴蹖賵夭禄 卮丕毓乇蹖 爻蹖丕賴 倬賵爻鬲 賵 芦丌賲乇蹖讴丕蹖蹖禄 亘賵丿賳丿貨 丕蹖卮丕賳 丿乇 丕卮毓丕乇 賵 賳賵卮鬲賴 賴丕 賵 爻乇賵丿賴 賴丕蹖卮丕賳貙 亘蹖卮鬲乇 丕夭 芦賴丕乇賱賲禄貙 芦賲賳丕胤賯 噩賳賵亘禄貙 芦鬲亘毓蹖囟丕鬲 賳跇丕丿蹖禄貙 芦丕丨爻丕爻 睾乇亘鬲禄貙 賵 丿乇 賴賲丕賳 丨丕賱 丕夭 芦睾乇賵乇 賵 賳禺賵鬲 爻蹖丕賴丕賳禄 賲蹖爻乇丕蹖賳丿 (賳賯賱 亘賴 賲囟賲賵賳 丕夭 賲賯丿賲賴 蹖 讴鬲丕亘)貨
亘诏匕丕乇蹖丿 丕蹖賳 賵胤賳 丿賵亘丕乇賴 賵胤賳 卮賵丿
賳诏匕丕乇蹖丿 丿賵亘丕乇賴 賴賲丕賳 乇賵蹖丕蹖蹖 卮賵丿 讴賴 亘賵丿
亘诏匕丕乇蹖丿 倬蹖卮丕賴賳诏 丿卮鬲 卮賵丿
賵
....
鬲丕乇蹖禺 亘賴賳诏丕賲 乇爻丕賳蹖 29/01/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
March 6, 2017
4.5 stars
I鈥檝e been interested in the writing of Langston Hughes for some time now. After reading Isabel Wilkerson鈥檚 , which included brief snippets of his writing, I added both this selection of his poetry as well as one of his novels, , to my growing list of books to read someday. I even recall my eighth-grader at the time sharing a piece of Hughes鈥檚 poetry with me and decided if he thought it was worth pointing out, then by all means I must get my hands on a copy of one of his collections!
Born in 1902 in Joplin, Missouri, Langston Hughes was one of the leading voices of the Harlem Renaissance. He was a prolific author, publishing numerous collections of poetry and short stories, novels, plays, non-fiction, and books for children. The influence of jazz and blues is evident in his writing, and his work is very accessible, written for the average person, not just for the scholarly individual. He wrote about working-class blacks in America and spoke to and about black people 鈥� their culture, their struggles, their joy, their music.
As part of Black History Month in February, I decided I was well overdue to begin my exploration of this celebrated poet. This particular collection is one which Hughes himself selected from his various volumes of published poetry. The poems vary in length, with some being quite short with just three or four lines. I rarely read poetry, but the beauty and the rhythms of his poems appealed to me immensely. I think the perfect way to experience them would be to hear them read aloud.
Of course, I can鈥檛 finish this review without including a couple of my favorite poems.
Juke Box Love Song
I could take the Harlem night
and wrap around you,
Take the neon lights and make a crown,
Take the Lenox Avenue busses,
Taxis, subways,
And for your love song tone their rumble down.
Take Harlem鈥檚 heartbeat,
Make a drumbeat,
Put it on a record, let it whirl,
And while we listen to it play,
Dance with you till day 鈥�
Dance with you, my sweet brown Harlem girl.
In Time of Silver Rain
In time of silver rain
The earth
Puts forth new life again,
Green grasses grow
And flowers lift their heads,
And over all the plain
The wonder spreads
Of life,
Of life,
Of life!
In time of silver rain
The butterflies
Lift silken wings
To catch a rainbow cry,
And trees put forth
New leaves to sing
In joy beneath the sky
As down the roadway
Passing boys and girls
Go singing, too,
In time of silver rain
When spring
And life
Are new.
I鈥檝e been interested in the writing of Langston Hughes for some time now. After reading Isabel Wilkerson鈥檚 , which included brief snippets of his writing, I added both this selection of his poetry as well as one of his novels, , to my growing list of books to read someday. I even recall my eighth-grader at the time sharing a piece of Hughes鈥檚 poetry with me and decided if he thought it was worth pointing out, then by all means I must get my hands on a copy of one of his collections!
Born in 1902 in Joplin, Missouri, Langston Hughes was one of the leading voices of the Harlem Renaissance. He was a prolific author, publishing numerous collections of poetry and short stories, novels, plays, non-fiction, and books for children. The influence of jazz and blues is evident in his writing, and his work is very accessible, written for the average person, not just for the scholarly individual. He wrote about working-class blacks in America and spoke to and about black people 鈥� their culture, their struggles, their joy, their music.
As part of Black History Month in February, I decided I was well overdue to begin my exploration of this celebrated poet. This particular collection is one which Hughes himself selected from his various volumes of published poetry. The poems vary in length, with some being quite short with just three or four lines. I rarely read poetry, but the beauty and the rhythms of his poems appealed to me immensely. I think the perfect way to experience them would be to hear them read aloud.
Of course, I can鈥檛 finish this review without including a couple of my favorite poems.
Juke Box Love Song
I could take the Harlem night
and wrap around you,
Take the neon lights and make a crown,
Take the Lenox Avenue busses,
Taxis, subways,
And for your love song tone their rumble down.
Take Harlem鈥檚 heartbeat,
Make a drumbeat,
Put it on a record, let it whirl,
And while we listen to it play,
Dance with you till day 鈥�
Dance with you, my sweet brown Harlem girl.
In Time of Silver Rain
In time of silver rain
The earth
Puts forth new life again,
Green grasses grow
And flowers lift their heads,
And over all the plain
The wonder spreads
Of life,
Of life,
Of life!
In time of silver rain
The butterflies
Lift silken wings
To catch a rainbow cry,
And trees put forth
New leaves to sing
In joy beneath the sky
As down the roadway
Passing boys and girls
Go singing, too,
In time of silver rain
When spring
And life
Are new.
February 9, 2017
Langston Hughes personally selected these poems for this collection, so it makes me feel closer to him. I've secretly wanted to live in the passed away time of this literary birth that took place during the Harlem Renaissance, so I was fascinated by the artwork of words. In fact I'm considering having a Harlem Renaissance Night gathering at my place and all I need is a saxophonist to commemorate Coleman Hawkins (because what instrument is as orgasmic as the sax?). Hughes sat around many musicians and blues singers and he took those forms of music and turned their notes into verse.
"I tried to write poems like the songs they sang on Seventh Street鈥�" - Langston Hughes
There are too many sections to this timeless collection, too many poems, even a montage of poems, so where to start? I went for the ones you don't see often. Those who read my review of know that I love "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," but this time I'm going for something a bit different and sensual and sorrowed and simple and colorful. And Harlemesque.
Harlem Night Song
Come,
Let us roam the night together
Singing.
I love you.
Across
The Harlem roof-tops
Moon is shining.
Night sky is blue.
Stars are great drops
Of golden dew
Down the street
A band is playing.
I love you.
Come,
Let us roam the night together
Singing.
Harlem Renaissance Couple, from James Van Der Zee's historical collection
In The Big Sea Hughes wrote about Gladys Bentley, the pianist who played the piano at a small club (since she wasn't allowed at the famous "Cotton Club" which sat in the middle of Harlem) "from ten in the evening until dawn, with scarcely a break between the notes, sliding from one song to another, with a powerful and continuous underbeat of jungle rhythm." He writes of people like Bentley in this collection, the starving artists denied their talent and denied jobs. He writes of the underdogs and unnoticed of the streets, the drunks, the prostitutes, the poor and homeless. He writes of a time when black people thrived in Harlem, but fought to survive in America.
While on this thematic path of depression, poverty, racial tensions, love, suicide, sex, and freedom, I followed the song of Langston Hughes. I let the song guide me and I followed it to Harlem, I followed Harlem, with a glass of cognac and John Coltrane's In a Sentimental Mood sounding softly the midnight air.
Jude Box Love Song
I could take the Harlem night
and wrap around you,
Take the neon lights and make a crown,
Take the Lenox Avenue buses,
Taxis, subways,
And for your love song tone their rumble down.
Take Harlem's heartbeat,
Make a drumbeat,
Put it on record, let it whirl,
And while we listen to it play,
Dance with you til day-
Dance with you, my sweet brown Harlem girl.
"I tried to write poems like the songs they sang on Seventh Street鈥�" - Langston Hughes
There are too many sections to this timeless collection, too many poems, even a montage of poems, so where to start? I went for the ones you don't see often. Those who read my review of know that I love "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," but this time I'm going for something a bit different and sensual and sorrowed and simple and colorful. And Harlemesque.
Harlem Night Song
Come,
Let us roam the night together
Singing.
I love you.
Across
The Harlem roof-tops
Moon is shining.
Night sky is blue.
Stars are great drops
Of golden dew
Down the street
A band is playing.
I love you.
Come,
Let us roam the night together
Singing.
Harlem Renaissance Couple, from James Van Der Zee's historical collection
In The Big Sea Hughes wrote about Gladys Bentley, the pianist who played the piano at a small club (since she wasn't allowed at the famous "Cotton Club" which sat in the middle of Harlem) "from ten in the evening until dawn, with scarcely a break between the notes, sliding from one song to another, with a powerful and continuous underbeat of jungle rhythm." He writes of people like Bentley in this collection, the starving artists denied their talent and denied jobs. He writes of the underdogs and unnoticed of the streets, the drunks, the prostitutes, the poor and homeless. He writes of a time when black people thrived in Harlem, but fought to survive in America.
While on this thematic path of depression, poverty, racial tensions, love, suicide, sex, and freedom, I followed the song of Langston Hughes. I let the song guide me and I followed it to Harlem, I followed Harlem, with a glass of cognac and John Coltrane's In a Sentimental Mood sounding softly the midnight air.
Jude Box Love Song
I could take the Harlem night
and wrap around you,
Take the neon lights and make a crown,
Take the Lenox Avenue buses,
Taxis, subways,
And for your love song tone their rumble down.
Take Harlem's heartbeat,
Make a drumbeat,
Put it on record, let it whirl,
And while we listen to it play,
Dance with you til day-
Dance with you, my sweet brown Harlem girl.
July 3, 2019
One afternoon in 1925, the white poet Vachel Lindsay was dining at the Wardman Park Hotel restaurant in Washington D.C. when a black busboy dropped three sheets of typed verse beside his plate. Lindsay read one of the poems, "The Weary Blues," and鈥攊mpressed鈥攃alled for the busboy, "Who wrote this?" he asked the young man. 鈥淚 did," answered Langston Hughes. That evening, Lindsay reciting all three of Hughes鈥� poem at his own poetry reading, announcing his discovery of a 鈥渂onafide poet.鈥�
Of course鈥攁s is true of most stories like this鈥攖he 鈥渄iscovery鈥� of 鈥渢he Poet Laureate of the Harlem Renaissance鈥� was not as simple as that. Four years earlier, Hughes鈥攋ust out of high school鈥攑ublished his now celebrated poem 鈥淭he Negro Speaks of Rivers鈥� in the NAACP鈥檚 magazine Crisis, winning the admiration of major figures in the black literary community like W.E.B. Dubois and James Weldon Johnson, and, at the time of his encounter with Lindsay, Hughes鈥� his first book鈥攁lso entitled The Weary Blues--had already been accepted for publication by Alfred A. Knopf. Still, Lindsay鈥攚ho today is often derided for his over-the-top performances and naive racism (particularly of his notorious poem 鈥淭he Congo) did what he could to publicize the young poet, and his contribution should be remembered. (Not forgetting, though, that it was Hughes who put those three poems down next to his plate.)
For years, I have carried around bright little memories of Langston Hughes in my head, all eight short poems I was taught and then taught in turn: 鈥淒reams鈥� (鈥�...if dreams die,/ life is a broken-winged bird/that cannot fly.鈥�), 鈥淭heme for English B鈥� ("...will my page be colored that I write?/ Being me, it will not be white.鈥�), 鈥淟et America Be America Again鈥� (鈥淭he land that never has been yet鈥�/ And yet must be鈥�/ the land where every man is free.鈥�), 鈥淢other to Son鈥� (鈥�...life for me ain鈥檛 been no crystal stair.鈥�), 鈥淚, Too, Sing America鈥� (I am the darker brother./ They send me to eat in the kitchen/ When company comes,/ But I laugh,/ And eat well,/ And grow strong.鈥�), 鈥淭he Weary Blues鈥� (鈥淎nd far into the night he crooned that tune./ The stars went out and so did the moon.), 鈥淗arlem (Dream Deferred)鈥� (鈥淲hat happens to a dream deferred?/ Does it dry up/ like a raisin in the sun?鈥�), and of course 鈥淭he Negro Speaks of Rivers鈥� (鈥淚鈥檝e known rivers:/ Ancient, dusky rivers./ My soul has grown deep like the rivers.鈥�) These gems, a central part of the African-American literary heritage, are an important part of the heritage of all Americans too.
Unfortunately, reading the three-hundred page Selected Poems of Langston Hughes, I have been unable to find many poems equal to these eight. Almost all possess a lyrical musicality even at their bleakest (a quality that always eluded Hughes鈥� major influence Carl Sandburg), but few suggest the epic scope of Whitman, even in miniature锟斤拷锟絘s 鈥淚, Too, Sing America鈥� and 鈥淭he Negro Speaks of Rivers鈥� undeniably do. Then again, as poet and critic Randall Jarrell once said, 鈥淎 poet is a man who manages, in a lifetime of standing out in thunderstorms, to be struck by lightning five or six times.鈥� Langston Hughes, who managed to be struck鈥攏ot five or six, but鈥攁t least eight times, is indisputably a poet. And the heritage of America is much richer because of it.
I offer you here eight very small lightning strikes or near-strikes which I uncovered in the course of my re-reading of the first half of this book:
AMERICAN HEARTBREAK
I am the American heartbreak鈥�
Rock on which Freedom
Stumps its toe鈥�
The great mistake
That Jamestown
Made long ago.
HOPE
Sometimes when I鈥檓 lonely,
Don鈥檛 know why,
Keep thinkin鈥� I won鈥檛 be lonely
By and by.
EVIL
Looks like what drives me crazy
Don鈥檛 have no effect on you鈥�
But I鈥檓 gonna keep on at it
Till it drives you crazy, too.
WINTER MOON
How thin and sharp is the moon tonight
How thin and sharp and ghostly white
Is the slim curved crook of the moon to night.
ARDELLA
I would liken you
To a night without stars
Were it not for your eyes.
I would liken you
To a sleep without dreams
Were it not for your songs.
SUICIDE鈥橲 NOTE
The calm,
Cool face of the river
Asked me for a kiss.
DESIRE
Deesire to us
Was like a double death
Swift dying
Of our mingled breath,
Evaporation
Of an unknown strange perfume
Between us quickly
In a naked
Room.
ME AND THE MULE
My old mule,
He鈥檚 got a grin on his face.
He鈥檚 been a mule so long
He鈥檚 forgot about his race.
I鈥檓 like that old mule鈥�
Black鈥攁nd don鈥檛 give a damn!
You got to take me
Like I am.
February 13, 2017
I'm always talking about Langston Hughes to my students and especially his poem "I, too sing America" but never read more than a few of his poems, and so I had a certain idea about his style and topics... What a surprise! I discovered other aspects about Langston Hughes that I didn't even suspect: his humour, his concern about women. I felt a range of emotions: sadness, happiness, shame, doubt,...
I knew his fight for freedom and for equality, but I didn't know that he was a great storyteller!
He also reminds me of Walt Whitman in certain aspects.
He is also a great musician: his poems must be read aloud or listened to! so the reader can appreciate his assonances, his tone and intonation, his rhythm, the sounds, his language.
I knew his fight for freedom and for equality, but I didn't know that he was a great storyteller!
He also reminds me of Walt Whitman in certain aspects.
He is also a great musician: his poems must be read aloud or listened to! so the reader can appreciate his assonances, his tone and intonation, his rhythm, the sounds, his language.
May 13, 2015
I finished this collection and was thrilled to have discovered more of Hughes poetry. This poetry collection is separated into thirteen sections. The themes of each section are very different yet the poems fit perfectly in each one. The themes cover race, religion, love, society, and just plain living. The poems are lyrical and some only contain a few words. Life of Fine and After Hours are two of my favorite sections. For those avid poetry lovers definitely this is a must read. I4m so glad I finally own a book that contains Hughes poetry.
April 5, 2015
This collection was great. A few of the poems didn't work for me, but the vast majority were superb. Here's two that I particularly liked.
I, Too.
I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.
Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"
Then.
Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed鈥�
I, too, am America.
Merry-Go-Round
Where is the Jim Crow section
On this merry-go-round,
Mister, cause I want to ride?
Down South where I come from
White and colored
Can't sit side by side.
Down South on the train
There's a Jim Crow car.
On the bus we're put in the back鈥�
But there ain't no back
To a merry-go-round!
Where's the horse
For a kid that's black?
I, Too.
I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.
Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"
Then.
Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed鈥�
I, too, am America.
Merry-Go-Round
Where is the Jim Crow section
On this merry-go-round,
Mister, cause I want to ride?
Down South where I come from
White and colored
Can't sit side by side.
Down South on the train
There's a Jim Crow car.
On the bus we're put in the back鈥�
But there ain't no back
To a merry-go-round!
Where's the horse
For a kid that's black?
June 5, 2018
The speaker catches fire
looking at their faces.
His words
jump down to stand
in listener's places.
The majority of these appear to be but lyrics, slinking, slight. Maybe slivers. Reflective and jagged. I struggle again with questions unposed.
I don鈥檛 imagine this collection will change many lives but there remains a necessary presence as we idly ignore our origins. I see the tropes today. Just below the haze and away from the anger.
looking at their faces.
His words
jump down to stand
in listener's places.
The majority of these appear to be but lyrics, slinking, slight. Maybe slivers. Reflective and jagged. I struggle again with questions unposed.
I don鈥檛 imagine this collection will change many lives but there remains a necessary presence as we idly ignore our origins. I see the tropes today. Just below the haze and away from the anger.
December 4, 2024
I remember the first time I read criticism of Hughes鈥� work which was through a compilation of shady remarks from one writer to another and between writers, and it was written by none other than James Baldwin: 鈥淓very time I read Langston Hughes I am amazed all over again by his genuine gifts--and depressed that he has done so little with them.鈥� I remember thinking what a harsh indictment that was, and that, as much as I love Baldwin, it wasn鈥檛 useful criticism, neither for the reader or writer. It鈥檚 just yesterday that I found and read the (which coincidentally happens to be a review of this very selection of poems!) and other than still feeling the bite of the quoted sentence when I reread it, which is also the opening of the Baldwin review, I pretty much found myself agreeing with much else that was said.
There are some very good poems here such as As I Grew Older, Dream Variations (also noted by Baldwin), Dream Dust, and Fulfilment, among others, and poems that just didn鈥檛 match up to the quality of the very best here. These poems weren鈥檛 sophisticated in the sense of difficulty to infer meaning from them as poetry can sometimes be, I never once questioned what was being said, and given the intentionality of wanting the poems to resonate mostly with those Hughes wrote in mind for, I respect and admire the beauty and simplicity in them. For instance with the poem No Regrets:
Out of love,
No regrets鈥�
Though the goodness
Be wasted forever.
Out of love,
No regrets鈥�
Though the return
Be never.
In the end, to reiterate, there are some very good poems and also some not-so-very-good poems here.
There are some very good poems here such as As I Grew Older, Dream Variations (also noted by Baldwin), Dream Dust, and Fulfilment, among others, and poems that just didn鈥檛 match up to the quality of the very best here. These poems weren鈥檛 sophisticated in the sense of difficulty to infer meaning from them as poetry can sometimes be, I never once questioned what was being said, and given the intentionality of wanting the poems to resonate mostly with those Hughes wrote in mind for, I respect and admire the beauty and simplicity in them. For instance with the poem No Regrets:
Out of love,
No regrets鈥�
Though the goodness
Be wasted forever.
Out of love,
No regrets鈥�
Though the return
Be never.
In the end, to reiterate, there are some very good poems and also some not-so-very-good poems here.
April 25, 2023
None of the poems I was assigned to read for class did anything for me.
September 29, 2013
I don't read much poetry, but reading Sylvia Plath's Ariel last week inspired me to read a little more. And so I picked up a collection of Langston Hughes' poems. Langston Hughes is one of the few poets I have read before, at least a little. He is part of one of my favorite literary-artistic-cultural periods, the Harlem Renaissance.
I absolutely loved this collection! I don't know much about Hughes but after reading this collection he seems like someone who would have been fun to hang out with 鈥攖he kind of person who could come up with a funny poem on the spur of the moment if you were having a bad day. Next to the funny poems about men and women and not making the rent, there are these intense poems about being Black in America, injustice, and freedom. Hughes' poems span the emotional spectrum, from sadness, to anger and frustration, to hope and happiness. This is an amazing collection of poetry. I am amazed at how so much can be said in just a few lines. Thanks Langston, this was wonderful.
I absolutely loved this collection! I don't know much about Hughes but after reading this collection he seems like someone who would have been fun to hang out with 鈥攖he kind of person who could come up with a funny poem on the spur of the moment if you were having a bad day. Next to the funny poems about men and women and not making the rent, there are these intense poems about being Black in America, injustice, and freedom. Hughes' poems span the emotional spectrum, from sadness, to anger and frustration, to hope and happiness. This is an amazing collection of poetry. I am amazed at how so much can be said in just a few lines. Thanks Langston, this was wonderful.
December 28, 2018
Note to self: I quite enjoyed driving through Langston Hughes' life. He colored sad things beautiful. And for that, and my love for important historical black literature, as well as being mulatto, I label 5 stars! I quarreled with this a little but found I was not uncertain of its merit because of his writing, but rather it was me judging some of the misogynistic poe!s in the beginning of this collection. However, he writes from many perspectives and those behaviors were understandable outcomes and important documentations of history considering the black strife being endured. So, because I enjoyed many poems but disliked some, it's not the same 5 stars as is the 5 stars of my beloved Claude Mckay. But still important.
I read this because he was Maya Angelou's favorite. I could really feel as if I was living his life. It's impressive how his words let you peer into many peoples' minds, souls, hearts, and pain. And live it. Even though poetry was reflected in many perspectives, I could tell it was still a major part of his shared story. That's good poetry and I love it.
I read this because he was Maya Angelou's favorite. I could really feel as if I was living his life. It's impressive how his words let you peer into many peoples' minds, souls, hearts, and pain. And live it. Even though poetry was reflected in many perspectives, I could tell it was still a major part of his shared story. That's good poetry and I love it.
February 11, 2015
I am a huge lover of Langston Hughes' poetry. Despite the fact that I am a white woman who will never know the depths of racism African Americans had to endure in this country, I honestly feel like Hughes helped all those who weren't going through this plight understand and be sympathetic to the cause. His poetry makes me want to be a better person. It inspires tolerance and understanding.
This book was a fabulous collection of Hughes' work. There are so many great poems that I don't know how I would ever be able to cover them all with a group of students. This will definitely be a collection I will acquire for my classroom library.
This book was a fabulous collection of Hughes' work. There are so many great poems that I don't know how I would ever be able to cover them all with a group of students. This will definitely be a collection I will acquire for my classroom library.
June 4, 2020
I adored Hughes' work in high school and rereading this collection only cemented that love. There are poems about race, about everyday life before the civil rights era. There's also charming ditties that seem designed to get a smile out of you.
I was surprised how many poems are familiar, how many lines stuck with me over twenty plus years.
There are others that have much more meaning now than they did in high school.
Needless to say Hughes remains my favorite poet of all time.
I was surprised how many poems are familiar, how many lines stuck with me over twenty plus years.
Come,
Let us roam the night together
Singing.
There are others that have much more meaning now than they did in high school.
Wake
Tell all my mourners
To mourn in red鈥�
Cause there ain't no sense
In my bein' dead
Needless to say Hughes remains my favorite poet of all time.
February 2, 2023
鉂わ笍 As a teen I read Harlem, Mother to Son - 鈥渁nd life for me ain鈥檛 been no crystal stair鈥� - and The Negro Speaks of Rivers and found them profound and moving. In this selection I find I am not touched in the same way by a large number of his fast, short, this-is-our-life poetry. Once he begins writing of racial injustice, Jim Crow, the KKK, the long reach for dignity, inclusion, and human equity, I find myself pulled into his words and world and heart once more. I highlighted many of those if you鈥檇 like to read them. It鈥檚 those poems that make me cry inside.
Read
August 20, 2019乇丐蹖丕賴丕鬲賵 丕夭 丿爻鬲 賳丿賴
賵丕爻賴 丕蹖賳鈥屭┵� 丕诏賴 乇丐蹖丕賴丕鬲 丕夭 丿爻 亘乇賳
夭賳丿诏蹖 毓蹖賳 亘蹖丕亘賵賳 亘乇賴賵鬲蹖 賲蹖鈥屫促�
讴賴 亘乇賮丕 鬲賵卮 蹖禺 夭丿賴 亘丕卮賳
乇丐蹖丕賴丕鬲賵 丕夭 丿爻 賳丿賴
賵丕爻賴 丕蹖賳鈥屭┵� 丕诏賴 乇丐蹖丕賴丕 亘賲蹖乇賳
夭賳丿诏蹖 毓蹖賳 賲乇睾 亘乇蹖丿賴 亘丕賱蹖 賲蹖鈥屫促�
讴賴 丿蹖诏賴 倬乇賵丕夭賵 禺賵丕亘 亘亘蹖賳賴
賵丕爻賴 丕蹖賳鈥屭┵� 丕诏賴 乇丐蹖丕賴丕鬲 丕夭 丿爻 亘乇賳
夭賳丿诏蹖 毓蹖賳 亘蹖丕亘賵賳 亘乇賴賵鬲蹖 賲蹖鈥屫促�
讴賴 亘乇賮丕 鬲賵卮 蹖禺 夭丿賴 亘丕卮賳
乇丐蹖丕賴丕鬲賵 丕夭 丿爻 賳丿賴
賵丕爻賴 丕蹖賳鈥屭┵� 丕诏賴 乇丐蹖丕賴丕 亘賲蹖乇賳
夭賳丿诏蹖 毓蹖賳 賲乇睾 亘乇蹖丿賴 亘丕賱蹖 賲蹖鈥屫促�
讴賴 丿蹖诏賴 倬乇賵丕夭賵 禺賵丕亘 亘亘蹖賳賴
August 26, 2021
I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.
Tomorrow,
I鈥檒l be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody鈥檒l dare
Say to me,
鈥淓at in the kitchen,鈥�
Then.
Besides,
They鈥檒l see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed鈥�
I, too, am America.
I, Too by Langston Hughes
Hughes' poems, in this large collection of more than a hundred poems, all seem to be written effortlessly. Many deal with oppression and most all have a clarity to them that does not require any interpretation.
Many are one stanza poems. I would like to have seen some longer poems in his repertoire though, especially those short ones that resonated.
My favorite poem was Night Funeral in Harlem, one of his longer ones. I don't know how one can write a better poem than that one so check it out.
I also really liked:
1. The Negro Speaks of Rivers
2. Negro
3. October 16
4. Stoney Lonesome
5. I, Too
6. Democracy
4.5 stars
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.
Tomorrow,
I鈥檒l be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody鈥檒l dare
Say to me,
鈥淓at in the kitchen,鈥�
Then.
Besides,
They鈥檒l see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed鈥�
I, too, am America.
I, Too by Langston Hughes
Hughes' poems, in this large collection of more than a hundred poems, all seem to be written effortlessly. Many deal with oppression and most all have a clarity to them that does not require any interpretation.
Many are one stanza poems. I would like to have seen some longer poems in his repertoire though, especially those short ones that resonated.
My favorite poem was Night Funeral in Harlem, one of his longer ones. I don't know how one can write a better poem than that one so check it out.
I also really liked:
1. The Negro Speaks of Rivers
2. Negro
3. October 16
4. Stoney Lonesome
5. I, Too
6. Democracy
4.5 stars
June 8, 2021
50,000+ stars
Do I even have to explain why?? This collection is a pure masterpiece馃挍.
Do I even have to explain why?? This collection is a pure masterpiece馃挍.
February 22, 2025
Forever in love with Langston Hughes 馃馃徎馃檹馃徎
March 13, 2024
Just beautiful. He was special and he lives on in his words.
August 27, 2021
A tinder box, a treasure chest.
January 31, 2021
The depth, breadth, feeling, impact are just astonishing. So much is still so relevant, so moving, so touching. And there is fun and liveliness in there too.
How did I not learn or memorize any of his poems till now? Just some of the ones in this collection I love:
The Negro Speaks of Rivers - I鈥檝e known rivers
Aunt Sue鈥檚 Stories
Negro
The Weary Blues - Droning a drowsy syncopated tune
Border Line
Luck - ... to some people love is given
Fantasy in Purple - ... blow one blaring trumpet note of sun
Trumpet Player - ... Trouble mellows to a golden note
Final Curve
Crossing - It was that lonely day
Magnolia Flowers - The quiet fading out of life
How did I not learn or memorize any of his poems till now? Just some of the ones in this collection I love:
The Negro Speaks of Rivers - I鈥檝e known rivers
Aunt Sue鈥檚 Stories
Negro
The Weary Blues - Droning a drowsy syncopated tune
Border Line
Luck - ... to some people love is given
Fantasy in Purple - ... blow one blaring trumpet note of sun
Trumpet Player - ... Trouble mellows to a golden note
Final Curve
Crossing - It was that lonely day
Magnolia Flowers - The quiet fading out of life
August 22, 2014
Remembering university classes and the first ones that never die...
Dream
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to the dreams
For when dreams go
life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
Dream
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to the dreams
For when dreams go
life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
October 11, 2011
James Mercer Langston Hughes (February 1, 1902 鈥� May 22, 1967) was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, socialist, homosexual and columnist. He began writing poetry when he was a young teenager. His newspaper column ran for twenty years in the 1940s and 1950s. Hughes uses the rhythms of African American music, particularly blues and jazz in his poetry. Later in his life Langston Hughes was called the "Poet Laureate of the Negro Race," a title he enjoyed and encouraged.
Hughes meant to represent the race in his writing and he was, perhaps, the most original of all African American poets. (Source: )
Hughes鈥� poetry will sing to you. He was named the Class Poet in his eighth grade class. Hughes said that he was one of two blacks in the class, but everybody (but not him, he reported) knew that Negroes (the polite term in those days that Hughes used) had rhythm! As an adult, some of his moves were to escape racial discrimination. Hughes attended Columbia University for one year but left because of discrimination. His first book of poetry, , was published by Alfred A. Knopf in 1926. He was twenty-four and had that one year of college.
Hughes, who claimed Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Carl Sandburg, and Walt Whitman as his primary influences, is particularly known for his insightful, colorful portrayals of black life in America from the twenties through the sixties. He wrote novels, short stories and plays, as well as poetry, and is also known for his engagement with the world of jazz and the influence it had on his writing, as in "Montage of a Dream Deferred." His life and work were enormously important in shaping the artistic contributions of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. Unlike other notable black poets of the period鈥擟laude McKay, Jean Toomer, and Countee Cullen鈥擧ughes refused to differentiate between his personal experience and the common experience of black America. He wanted to tell the stories of his people in ways that reflected their actual culture, including both their suffering and their love of music, laughter, and language itself.
In addition to leaving us a large body of poetic work, Hughes wrote eleven plays and countless works of prose, including the well-known 鈥淪imple鈥� books: Simple Speaks His Mind, Simple Stakes a Claim, Simple Takes a Wife, and Simple's Uncle Sam. He edited the anthologies The Poetry of the Negro and The Book of Negro Folklore, wrote an acclaimed autobiography (The Big Sea) and co-wrote the play Mule Bone with Zora Neale Hurston. Source:
Some academics and biographers today believe that Hughes was homosexual and included homosexual codes in many of his poems, similar in manner to Walt Whitman. Hughes has cited him as an influence on his poetry. Hughes's story "Blessed Assurance" deals with a father's anger over his son's effeminacy and "queerness". To retain the respect and support of black churches and organizations and avoid exacerbating his precarious financial situation, Hughes remained closeted.
Source:
The poetry in is almost all very short, some as short as two or three lines, hardly any more than a page. His poems are moments, glimpses, feelings, vignettes, riffs. He has gospel and god damn. He has humor but can surprise you with serious, something hard to deliver in just a few lines.
Vagabonds
We are the desperate
Who do not care,
The hungry
Who have nowhere
To eat.
No place to sleep,
The tearless
Who cannot
Weep.
Quite a few Hughes poems could be Tweets! 144, a gross of characters that catch a loose idea.
Ennui
It鈥檚 such a
Bore
Being always
Poor.
Sea Calm
How still,
How strangely still
The water is today.
It is not good
For water
To be so still that way.
Little Lyric (Of Great Importance)
I wish the rent
Was heaven sent.
Langston sings the blues.
Down and Out
Baby, if you love me
Help me when I鈥檓 down and out.
If you love me, baby,
Help me when I鈥檓 down and out,
I鈥檓 a po鈥� gal
Nobody gives a damn about.
The credit man鈥檚 done took ma clothes
And rent time鈥檚 nearly here.
I鈥檇 like to buy a straightenin鈥� comb,
An鈥� I need a dime fo鈥� beer.
I need a dime fo鈥� beer.
Langston laughs.
Heaven
Heaven is
The place where
Happiness is
Everywhere.
Animals
And birds sing 鈥�
As does
Everything.
To each stone,
鈥淗辞飞-诲辞-测辞耻-诲辞?鈥�
Stone answers back,
鈥淲ell! And you?鈥�
Hughes doesn鈥檛 use big words or arcane allusions to make his points.
Ballad of the Girl Whose Name Is Mud
A girl with all that raising,
It鈥檚 hard to understand
How she could get in trouble
With a no-good man.
The guy she gave her all to
Dropped her with a thud.
Now amongst decent people,
Dorothy鈥檚 name is mud.
But nobody鈥檚 seen her shed a tear,
Nor seen her hang her head.
Ain鈥檛 even heard her murmur,
Lord, I wish I was dead!
No! the hussy鈥檚 telling everybody 鈥�
Just as though it was no sin 鈥�
That if she had a chance
She鈥檇 do it agin鈥�!
Hughes is not all fun. Not at all. He wrote of the terror of his day.
Ku Klux
They took me out
To some lonesome place.
They said, 鈥淒o you believe
In the great white race?鈥�
I said, 鈥淢ister,
To tell you the truth,
I鈥檇 believe in anything
If you鈥檇 just turn me loose.鈥�
The white man said, 鈥淏oy,
Can it be
You鈥檙e a-standin鈥� there
A-sassin鈥� me?鈥�
They hit me in the head
And knocked me down.
And then they kicked me
On the ground.
A klansman said, 鈥淣igger,
Look me in the face 鈥�
And tell me you believe in
The great white race.鈥�
Hughes tells of the future. He calls for justice.
Democracy
Democracy will not come
Today, this year
Not ever
Through compromise and fear.
I have as much right
As the other fellow has
To stand
On my two feet
And own the land.
I tire so of hearing people say,
Let things take their course.
Tomorrow is another day.
I do not need my freedom when I鈥檓 dead.
I cannot live on tomorrow鈥檚 bread.
Freedom
Is a strong seed
Planted
In a great need.
I live here, too.
I want freedom
Just as you.
I enjoyed reading Langston Hughes. I knew just what he was saying even when I did not share his experiences. I shared his dreams.
January 7, 2022
Did you ever go down to the river--
Two a.m. midnight by your self?
Sit down by the river
And wonder what you got left?
(..)
Down on the Harlem River:
Two a.m.
Midnight!
By your self!
Lawd, I wish I could die--
But who would miss me if I left?
Two a.m. midnight by your self?
Sit down by the river
And wonder what you got left?
(..)
Down on the Harlem River:
Two a.m.
Midnight!
By your self!
Lawd, I wish I could die--
But who would miss me if I left?
October 20, 2017
I admit that I haven鈥檛 studied poetry in an academic setting enough yet to critique it structurally, but I do read my fair share of it, and this collection includes some of my absolute favorite poetry I have ever read. I love that Hughes is a vernacular poet but has a beautiful style of verse and rhythm at the same time. I love the way he portrays things like religion, music, and love. Every single poem is so genuine and truly speaks. Langston Hughes is no doubt one of America鈥檚 most talented and important poets and should be read by absolutely everyone.
Read
August 4, 2016倬賱 乇丕 丌賴賳
蹖賴 丌賵丕夭 睾賲賳丕讴賴 鬲賵 賴賵丕
倬賱 乇丕 丌賴賳
蹖賴 丌賵丕夭 睾賲賳丕讴賴 鬲賵 賴賵丕
賴乇 賵禺 蹖賴 賯胤丕乇 丕夭 乇賵卮 乇丿 賲蹖鈥屫促�
丿賱賲 賲蹖鈥屭� 爻乇 亘匕丕乇賲 亘賴 蹖賴 噩丕蹖蹖
乇賮鬲賲 亘賴 丕蹖爻诏丕
丿賱 鬲賵 丿賱賲 賳亘賵丿
乇賮鬲賲 亘賴 丕蹖爻诏丕
丿賱 鬲賵 丿賱賲 賳亘賵丿
丿賳亘丕賱 蹖賴 賵丕诏賵賳 亘丕乇蹖 賲蹖鈥屭簇�
讴賴 睾賽賱賲 亘丿賴 亘亘乇鬲賲 蹖賴 噩丕蹖蹖 鬲賵 噩賳賵亘
丌蹖 禺丿丕 噩賵賳賲
丌賵丕夭丕蹖 睾賲賳丕讴 丿丕卮鬲賳
趩蹖夭 賵丨卮鬲賳丕讴蹖賴
丌賵丕夭丕蹖 睾賲賳丕讴 丿丕卮鬲賳
趩蹖夭 賵丨卮鬲賳丕讴蹖賴
賵丕爻賴 賳乇蹖禺鬲賳 丕卮讴丕賲賴 讴賴 丕蹖賳鈥屫堌�
賳蹖卮賲賵 賵丕 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 賵 賲蹖鈥屫嗀�
蹖賴 丌賵丕夭 睾賲賳丕讴賴 鬲賵 賴賵丕
倬賱 乇丕 丌賴賳
蹖賴 丌賵丕夭 睾賲賳丕讴賴 鬲賵 賴賵丕
賴乇 賵禺 蹖賴 賯胤丕乇 丕夭 乇賵卮 乇丿 賲蹖鈥屫促�
丿賱賲 賲蹖鈥屭� 爻乇 亘匕丕乇賲 亘賴 蹖賴 噩丕蹖蹖
乇賮鬲賲 亘賴 丕蹖爻诏丕
丿賱 鬲賵 丿賱賲 賳亘賵丿
乇賮鬲賲 亘賴 丕蹖爻诏丕
丿賱 鬲賵 丿賱賲 賳亘賵丿
丿賳亘丕賱 蹖賴 賵丕诏賵賳 亘丕乇蹖 賲蹖鈥屭簇�
讴賴 睾賽賱賲 亘丿賴 亘亘乇鬲賲 蹖賴 噩丕蹖蹖 鬲賵 噩賳賵亘
丌蹖 禺丿丕 噩賵賳賲
丌賵丕夭丕蹖 睾賲賳丕讴 丿丕卮鬲賳
趩蹖夭 賵丨卮鬲賳丕讴蹖賴
丌賵丕夭丕蹖 睾賲賳丕讴 丿丕卮鬲賳
趩蹖夭 賵丨卮鬲賳丕讴蹖賴
賵丕爻賴 賳乇蹖禺鬲賳 丕卮讴丕賲賴 讴賴 丕蹖賳鈥屫堌�
賳蹖卮賲賵 賵丕 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 賵 賲蹖鈥屫嗀�
November 23, 2019
When I was in school I used to hate poetry but as I鈥檝e grown I鈥檝e found a great appreciation for the skill it takes to become a poet. Hughes鈥檚 poems are moving, political and inspirational. I loved how they ranged from emotions of depression to ones of anger and strife. My favorite poem from this selection would have to be 鈥淢iss Blues鈥檈s Child鈥� I鈥檝e felt that feeling too often.
October 2, 2020
I was introduced to Langston Hughes earlier this year and truly enjoyed the selection of poems I have read by him. I wanted to read and know more about him whenever I have the chance.
This collection was rich of amazing poems that told stories about Harlem, about his race's struggles, about oppression, discrimination and slavery, about his feeling towards his white father and black mother, in addition to number of poems about love, life, death and religion.
The collection seems to have covered everything Langston went through or has been interested in, which makes you feel closer to the poet as you read. You can easily conclude his ideas and point of view about life.
I personally loved the poems that described the lives of the blacks and denounced the whites supremacy. They were all my favorite poems; I think I loved every poem in the last section.
All in all I enjoyed the collection, and it encouraged me to read more poetry in general.
One of the things that I really liked about Hughes is his style. It is full of images, he uses easy language and smooth rhythm that make you feel and live the stories he is telling effortlessly.
4 stars!
A list of my favorite poems.
Madam and Her Might-Have-Been ** Ballad of the Man who's Gone
Who But the Lord ** Blue Bayou
Share-Croppers ** Ku Klux
Cross ** Children's Rhymes
Necessity ** New Yorkers
Ballad of the Landlord ** Drunkard
Theme for English B ** Night Funeral in Harlem
Blues at Dawn ** Neighbor
Silver ** I, Too
Freedom Train ** In explanation of Our Times
Democracy ** Consider Me
The Negro Mother ** Freedom's Plow
Cora ** Final curve
Homecoming ** Mama and Daughter
Ennui ** Little Lyric
50-50 ** Desert
End ** Suicide's Note
Late Last Night ** Reverie on the Harlem River
Early Evening Quarrel ** Water-Front Streets
A black Pierrot ** Genius Child
Tell Me ** Aunt Sue's Stories
Fire ** As I Grew Older
Let America Be America Again ** The Negro Speaks of Rivers
This collection was rich of amazing poems that told stories about Harlem, about his race's struggles, about oppression, discrimination and slavery, about his feeling towards his white father and black mother, in addition to number of poems about love, life, death and religion.
The collection seems to have covered everything Langston went through or has been interested in, which makes you feel closer to the poet as you read. You can easily conclude his ideas and point of view about life.
I personally loved the poems that described the lives of the blacks and denounced the whites supremacy. They were all my favorite poems; I think I loved every poem in the last section.
All in all I enjoyed the collection, and it encouraged me to read more poetry in general.
One of the things that I really liked about Hughes is his style. It is full of images, he uses easy language and smooth rhythm that make you feel and live the stories he is telling effortlessly.
4 stars!
A list of my favorite poems.
Madam and Her Might-Have-Been ** Ballad of the Man who's Gone
Who But the Lord ** Blue Bayou
Share-Croppers ** Ku Klux
Cross ** Children's Rhymes
Necessity ** New Yorkers
Ballad of the Landlord ** Drunkard
Theme for English B ** Night Funeral in Harlem
Blues at Dawn ** Neighbor
Silver ** I, Too
Freedom Train ** In explanation of Our Times
Democracy ** Consider Me
The Negro Mother ** Freedom's Plow
Cora ** Final curve
Homecoming ** Mama and Daughter
Ennui ** Little Lyric
50-50 ** Desert
End ** Suicide's Note
Late Last Night ** Reverie on the Harlem River
Early Evening Quarrel ** Water-Front Streets
A black Pierrot ** Genius Child
Tell Me ** Aunt Sue's Stories
Fire ** As I Grew Older
Let America Be America Again ** The Negro Speaks of Rivers
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