Negro Speaks of Rivers, di Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes

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.

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Demand

Listen! Dear dream of utter aliveness— Touching my body of utter death— Tell me, O quickly! dream of aliv… The flaming source of your bright…

Wake

Tell all my mourners To mourn in red — Cause there ain’t no sense In my bein’ dead.

Life Is Fine

I went down to the river, I set down on the bank. I tried to think but couldn’t, So I jumped in and sank. I came up once and hollered!

Madam and the Phone Bill

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

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 mot…

Ballad of the Gypsy

I went to the Gypsy’s. Gypsy settin’ all alone. I said, Tell me, Gypsy, When will my gal be home? Gypsy said, Silver,

Madam's Past History

My name is Johnson— Madam Alberta K. The Madam stands for business. I’m smart that way. I had a

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-moanin’,

Dreams

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

Suicide’s Note

The calm, Cool face of the river Asked me for a kiss.

Freedom's Plow

When a man starts out with nothing… When a man starts out with his han… Empty, but clean, When a man starts to build a world… He starts first with himself

Po' Boy Blues

When I was home de Sunshine seemed like gold. When I was home de Sunshine seemed like gold. Since I come up North de

Motto

I play it cool I dig all jive. That's the reason I stay alive. My motto

Walkers with the Dawn

Being walkers with the dawn and mo… Walkers with the sun and morning, We are not afraid of night, Nor days of gloom, Nor darkness—

Final Curve

When you turn the corner And you run into yourself Then you know that you have turned All the corners that are left

Langston Hughes