Langston Hughes

I don't really know any, but I've been enjoying the poems you have posted. Of those, I think I like 'Madam' best so far. She sounds so strong and no-nonsense. Plus I like narrative poetry.

Madam?


I liked "Madam" too!

Which is your favorite? Have you already posted it?

Survey?
I'll have to survey all of them, before I can really make a decision.

This is supposed to be one of his earliest and most famous...

The Negro Speaks of Rivers

I've known rivers:
I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the
flow of human blood in human veins.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.
I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.
I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln
went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy
bosom turn all golden in the sunset.

I've known rivers:
Ancient, dusky rivers.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

omigosh... I used to have this one memorized, and I didn't even know it was Langston Hughes!

Dreams

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

Okay, I'll stop after this one, but I like this a lot.

It's called Dream Variations

To fling my arms wide
In some place of the sun,
To whirl and to dance
Till the white day is done.
Then rest at cool evening
Beneath a tall tree
While night comes on gently,
Dark like me--
That is my dream!

To fling my arms wide
In the face of the sun,
Dance! Whirl! Whirl!
Till the quick day is done.
Rest at pale evening . . .
A tall, slim tree . . .
Night coming tenderly
Black like me.

Well, I know I said I'd stop, but this one is too great...

Madam and Her Madam

I worked for a woman,
She wasn't mean--
But she had a twelve-room
House to clean.

Had to get breakfast,
Dinner, and supper, too--
Then take care of her children
When I got through.

Wash, iron, and scrub,
Walk the dog around--
It was too much,
Nearly broke me down.

I said, Madam,
Can it be
You trying to make a
Pack-horse out of me?

She opened her mouth.
She cried, Oh, no!
You know, Alberta,
I love you so!

I said, Madam,
That may be true--
But I'll be dogged
If I love you!

I like that Whirling in the Sun a lot... it reminds me of an Edna St.Vincent Millay poem.

AFTERNOON ON A HILL
I will be the gladdest thing
Under the sun!
I will touch a hundred flowers
And not pick one.

I will look at cliffs and clouds
With quiet eyes,
Watch the wind bow down the grass,
And the grass rise.

And when lights begin to show
Up from the town,
I will mark which must be mine,
And then start down!


Edna St. Vincent Millay

Hughes was Huge!

My favorite is below:




Dream Deferred

What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?

These are great. Hughes is not well-known in Canada, so it was enlightening to read his work here. It was helpful to find several examples of his verse together - it gave me an opportunity to look at a few of his works together and get a sense of him.

Sylvester's Dying Bed
"I woke up this mornin'
'Bout half-past three.
All the womens in town
Was gathered round me.

Sweet gals was a-moaning',
"Sylvester's gonna die!"
And a hundred pretty mamas
Bowed their heads to cry.

I woke up little later
'Bout half-past fo',
The doctor 'n' undertaker's
Both at ma do'.

Black gals was a-beggin',
"You can't leave us here!"
Brown-skins cryin', "Daddy!
Honey! Baby! Don't go, dear!"

But I felt ma time's a-comin',
And I know'd I's dyin' fast.
I seed the River Jerden
A-creepin'muddy past-
But I's still Sweet Papa 'Vester, Yes,sir! Long as life do last!

So I hollers, "com'ere, babies,
Fo' to love yo'daddy right!"
and I reaches up to hug'em-
When the Lawd put out the light.

Then everything was darkness
In a great...big...night".



Sylvester's Dying Bed
Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes Books
Books by/or Containing Works by Langston Hughes:
1. The Langston Hughes Reader

2. The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes


( This list will be added to, in the near future. Many if not all of the listed books are available at amazon.com. Publishers and other info will be added in the near future)

New Haven -- Sylvester's Dying Bed may be the best so far that you've posted. Great!

As I continue reading works by Hughes, I realize how deficient my literary background is. As a kid, I never read much poetry. But now, as an adult I find poetry to be more soothing, than even prayers.

I know what you mean... poetry is a very satisfying read. And my favorites? I read again and again.

Thanks for introducing me to "huge" Hughes. I 'ppreciate it!

I just ordered two books by Langston Hughes from Amazon.com.

Once I finally get them, I'll be able to post some more poems.

There are so many poets that I like, it's hard to really say that anyone is more special to me, than any other.

I like Robert Burns, for example . But...he's very different from Hughes
.

Bad Luck?
"Cause you don't love me
Is awful, awful hard.
Gypsy done showed me
My bad luck card.

There ain't no good left
In this world for me.
Gypsy done tole me-
Unlucky as can be.

I don't know what
Po'weary me can do.
Gypsy says I'd kill my self
If I was you".


Bad Luck Card
Langston Hughes ( 1927 )