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Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes

The Blues

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
And you’ve lost the dime you had—
Slipped through a hole in your pocket somewhere—
That’s the blues, too, and bad!

#Americans #Blacks

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Other works by Langston Hughes...
50-50

I’m all alone in this world, she s… Ain’t got nobody to share my bed, Ain’t got nobody to hold my hand— The truth of the matter’s I ain’t got no man.
Remember

Remember The days of bondage— And remembering— Do not stand still. Go to the highest hill
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—
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,
 2
Scene from A Midsummer Night's Dream, by Edwin Landseer
The Dream Keeper

And that is what poetry may do, wrap up your dreams, protect and preserve and hold them until maybe they come true. Columbus dreamed of finding a new world, he found it. Edison dreamed ...
 1
 3
Wake

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

Love Is a ripe plum Growing on a purple tree. Taste it once And the spell of its enchantment
The card trick, by John George Brown
Democracy

Democracy will not come Today, this year Nor ever Through compromise and fear. I have as much right
Songs

I sat there singing her Songs in the dark. She said; 'I do not understand The words’.
 1
Cultural Exchange

In the Quarter of the Negroes Where the doors are doors of paper Dust of dingy atoms Blows a scratchy sound. Amorphous jack—o’—Lanterns caper
You and your whole race.

You and your whole race. Look down upon the town in which y… And be ashamed. Look down upon white folks And upon yourselves
 1
The Dream, by Franz Marc
Dreams

Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams
 2
Fire-Caught

The gold moth did not love him So, gorgeous, she flew away. But the gray moth circled the flam… Until the break of day. And then, with wings like a dead d…
Madam and the Rent Man

The rent man knocked. He said, Howdy—do? I said, What Can I do for you? He said, You know
 1
 2
Easy Boogie

Down in the bass That steady beat Walking walking walking Like marching feet. Down in the bass
 2



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