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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!

#Americans #Blacks

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Other works by Langston Hughes...
Lonesome Place

I got to leave this town. It’s a lonesome place. Got to leave this town cause It’s a lonesome place. A po’, po’ boy can’t
 1
Prize Fighter

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

Gather quickly Out of darkness All the songs you know And throw them at the sun Before they melt
A 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?
 2
Enemy

It would be nice In any case, To someday meet you Face to face Walking down
I look at the world

I look at the world From awakening eyes in a black fac… And this is what I see: This fenced—off narrow space Assigned to me.
 1
Silence

I catch the pattern Of your silence Before you speak I do not need To hear a word.
 2
Peace

We passed their graves: The dead men there, Winners or losers, Did not care. In the dark
Dinner Guest: Me

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

Because my mouth Is wide with laughter And my throat Is deep with song, You do not think
 1
To Artina

I will take you heart. I will take your soul out of your… As though I were God. I will not be satisfied With the touch of your hand
Wealth

From Christ to Ghandi Appears this truth— St. Francis of Assisi Proves it, too: Goodness becomes grandeur
Snake

He glides so swiftly Back into the grass— Gives me the courtesy of road To let me pass, That I am half ashamed
 1
My People

The night is beautiful, So the faces of my people. The stars are beautiful, So the eyes of my people. Beautiful, also, is the sun.
 2
Daybreak in Alabama

When I get to be a composer I’m gonna write me some music abou… Daybreak in Alabama And I’m gonna put the purtiest so… Rising out of the ground like a sw…
 1



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