• Wed. Nov 22nd, 2023

Janeane's World: Published By James, Davis, and Associates

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Black History Month – Langston Hughes – Dream Variations

dream variations www.janeanesworld.com

The poem of the day for today’s Black History Month Langston Hughes celebration is “Dream Variations.” During February each year, people all across the United States celebrate Black History Month. Things are no different here at Janeane’s World. This month I am copying an idea I got from my friend Pammy Pam over at An Unconventional Librarian and I am devoting the entire month to the poems of my favorite author and poet, Langston Hughes. I will share a poem a day for the entire month.

 

dream variations www.janeanesworld.com

 

 

You may ask what place does poetry or celebrations of Black History month have in this blog that was created to encourage, inspire and motivate women to be their best at work and home. I would answer that I am an African-American woman so black history is my history and when you understand and appreciate it, you come closer to understanding and appreciating me. I would also answer that poetry, like all forms of artistic expression fuels our passions, gives us hope makes us think and makes our lives richer and better.  

Dream Variations

To fling my arms wide
In some place of the sun,
To whirl and to dance
Till the white day is done.
Then rest at cool evening
Beneath a tall tree
While night comes on gently,
Dark like me-
That is my dream!

To fling my arms wide
In the face of the sun,
Dance! Whirl! Whirl!
Till the quick day is done.
Rest at pale evening . . .
A tall, slim tree . . .
Night coming tenderly
Black like me.

The words to this poem are hopeful even though life is hard. I like the way the words suggest that no matter how hard the day is, no matter how bleak a situation may seem, there is hope on the other side. I like that there is always room for a dream, there is always hope on the other side of whatever we encounter. The poem also speaks to me because I dance, literally dance at night once I have put the children to bed and the house is quiet. I do not dance well or to the beat of the music. In fact, I may be the worst dancer you have ever seen. But, there is not a person on the planet earth who dances with more joy, hope and happiness than me!

If you would like to read more about dreams and hope, check out the following.

dream variations www.janeanesworld.comTake Action Now – It’s Your Dream – Make It Happen

It is magnificent to take action now and realize it is your dream and you can make it happen. One of my favorite and best things to do is TAN. What is TAN? TAN means to Take Action Now, to start doing what needs to be done. When you take action now you leave the world of “what if” and enter the world of “yes, I am doing this.” The world is full of reasons to sit back and wait, to put off until tomorrow. That is a fact everyone seems to know very well. The world is full of excuses. You know, the excuses that keep you from accomplishing your dreams. [Read More . . . ]

 

dream variations www.janeanesworld.com

Take Action Now and Live The Dream

When you have a dream it is important to work, to do something to make the dream come true. Faith without work is dead and no one wants to be the owner of a dead dream. At the same time, when you take action on your dream, make sure the action is real and that you are not sabotaging your dream without realizing it. For example, recently I was speaking with a group of entrepreneurs about going from dreams to reality. The discussion revolved around the idea of writing checks for some dream amount the entrepreneur would earn in the future. The filled in checks were to be placed where the could be seen each day. This visual cue was thought to be a source of motivation. [Read More . . . ]

dream variations www.janeanesworld.comTake Action Now to Follow A Dream

Take a moment now to look at your life, think about your dreams. How are you treating your dream, what are you doing with them? What has been your history when dealing with your dreams. Has your habit been to sit back and treat your dreams as precious untouchable things that sit in the china closet of your mind? Or, are you a person who tends to take action now and to treats your dreams as things that must be used, worked and acted upon? There are no right or wrong answers to these questions. No matter what your answer is, answer honestly. Once you have asked the question and answered honestly, you will know your place in the universe.
[Read More . . . ]

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.

1. 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)

2. 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)