Selected Poems of Langston Hughes (1959)

A wonderful collection. Poems are arranged together by topic. ( )

I found the following poems to be the most meaningful: Aunt Sue's Stories, Negro, As I Grew Older, Dream Variations, Hope, and Ku Klux.

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’t 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. ( )

Many are "meh", but on the whole, he has an amazing gift for words and meter. ( )

It doesn't seem right to say that Langston Hughes is a great African-American/Black/Negro/Harlem Renaissance poet. Rather, he is a great poet. He is a great American poet. Without any qualification. His words are just as powerful, revolutionary, and, potentially, as controversial in 2018.

Cross

My old man's a white old man
And my old mother's black,
If ever I cursed my white old man
I take my curses back.

If ever I cursed my black old mother
And wish she were in hell,
I'm sorry for that evil wish
And now I wish her well.

My old man died in a fine big house.
My ma died in a shack.
I wonder where I'm gonna die,
Being neither white nor black?

Democracy

Democracy will not come
Today, this year
Nor ever
Through compromise and fear,

I have as much right
As the other fellow has
To stand
On my own 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'm dead.
I cannot live on tomorrow's bread.

Freedom
Is a strong seed
Planted
In a great need.
I live here, too.
I want freedom
Just as you. ( )