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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...
Jazzonia

Oh, silver tree! Oh, shining rivers of the soul! In a Harlem cabaret Six long—headed jazzers play. A dancing girl whose eyes are bold
 1
Suicide’s Note

The calm, Cool face of the river Asked me for a kiss.
 2
The Weary Blues

Droning a drowsy syncopated tune, Rocking back and forth to a mellow… I heard a Negro play. Down on Lenox Avenue the other ni… By the pale dull pallor of an old…
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
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
Wealth

From Christ to Ghandi Appears this truth— St. Francis of Assisi Proves it, too: Goodness becomes grandeur
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
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’,
 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!
Madam's Past History

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

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

It’s such a Bore Being always Poor.
 2
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
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



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