I like this poem. It has a lot of excitement and changes direction. When I read the title, I think the poem is going to be about a good day, about the start of something new. Then as I get into the poem and read more of the words, I see visions of people all over Harlem with their accents from foreign lands and from different areas of the south. Finally, I think about the dreams all the people had when they left their homes to travel north to Harlem, USA. Normally when people leave home to travel far away they are hopeful, nervous, and anticipating big things. The line at the end makes me feel a little sorry for the people who dream big dreams and then have those dreams deferred for some reason.
I am one of those people who lives life looking for miracles, expecting the impossible, seeing the invisible, and feeling the intangible. This means my dreams don’t get deferred. They may be changed, adapted, and hard to come by, but they stand strong until they move from dream to reality.
Good morning! It is always morning somewhere in the world so dream a big dream and go live it!
For another look at my favorite words from other people, check out the following.
Wonderful Wednesday – Wonderful Words from Others
McKay was talking about the mask that black people in America wore in front of the white world during his lifetime from 1872 to 1906. During that time, blacks did not enjoy the rights and privileges they do today so in order to survive they had to hide their true feelings about the injustice they faced. If instead of wearing a mask, a black man were to show how he truly felt about not being able to get fair pay, being treated unfairly and being denied equal protection and opportunity, he very likely would face imprisonment or death.
Wonderful Wednesday – Wonderful Words -Phenomenal Women
Every person should have a positive self-image. There is something powerful and enlightening about having a good self-image. When I am around people who stand up straight and think they are wonderful, it is encouraging and empowering and I like it! Appropriate self-pride is contagious. When I get all dolled up and start strutting my stuff, my twin daughters get excited and start to prance around. They feel pretty and special. They catch my phenomenon!
If you want to get some Langston Hughes books of your own, check out the following. Please note, these are affiliate links which means I may earn income if you purchase one of these books.
- This is the book I keep on my desk in my office. It is worn out and the edges are frayed because I use it so much. It was a gift from my husband which makes it a special treasure.
Selected Poems of Langston Hughes (Vintage Classics)
- The Simple stories were my introduction to Langston Hughes. They are an incredible combination of entertainment, sociology and politics of the time.
The Early Simple Stories (Collected Works of Langston Hughes, Vol 7)
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