Dream Boogie, by Langston Hughes | poems, essays, and short stories in Poeticous

Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes

Dream Boogie

Good morning, daddy!

Ain’t you heard

The boogie—woogie rumble

Of a dream deferred?

Listen closely:

You’ll hear their feet

Beating out and beating out a —

You think

It’s a happy beat?

Listen to it closely:

Ain’t you heard

something underneath

like a —

What did I say?

Sure,

I’m happy!

Take it away!

Hey, pop!

Re—bop!

Mop!

Y—e—a—h!

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Other works by Langston Hughes...

It would be nice In any case, To someday meet you Face to face Walking down

When the shoe strings break On both your shoes And you’re in a hurry— That’s the blues. When you go to buy a candy bar

I am God— Without one friend, Alone in my purity World without end. Below me young lovers

1

Madam and the Phone Bill

You say I O.K.ed LONG DISTANCE? O.K.ed it when? My goodness, Central That was then!

I would liken you To a night without stars Were it not for your eyes. I would liken you To a sleep without dreams

As I Grew Older

It was a long time ago. I have almost forgotten my dream. But it was there then, In front of me, Bright like a sun—

Harlem Sent him home in a long box— Too dead To know why:

I sat there singing her Songs in the dark. She said; 'I do not understand The words’.

1

The Fourth Estate, by Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo

Now dreams Are not available To the dreamers, Nor songs To the singers.

1

Harlem Sweeties

Have you dug the spill Of Sugar Hill? Cast your gims On this sepia thrill: Brown sugar lassie,

2

Only dumb guys fight. If I wasn’t dumb I wouldn’t be fightin’. I could make six dollars a day On the docks

The Negro Speaks of Rivers

I’ve known rivers: I’ve known rivers ancient as the w… My soul has grown deep like the ri… I bathed in the Euphrates when da… I built my hut near the Congo and…

2

Remember The days of bondage— And remembering— Do not stand still. Go to the highest hill

Dinner Guest: Me

I know I am The Negro Problem Being wined and dined, Answering the usual questions That come to white mind

been scared and battered. My hopes the wind done scattered. Snow has friz me, Sun has baked me, Looks like between 'em they done