Deceased by Langston Hughes


Harlem Sent him home in a long box- Too dead To know why: The licker Was lye. Langston Hughes —

Daybreak in Alabama by Langston Hughes


When I get to be a composer I’m gonna write me some music about Daybreak in Alabama And I’m gonna put the purtiest songs in it Rising out of the ground like a swamp mist And falling out of heaven like soft dew. I’m gonna put some tall tall trees in it And the scent […]

Cultural Exchange by Langston Hughes


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 And the wind won’t wait for midnight For fun to blow doors down. By the river and the railroad With fluid far-off goind Boundaries bind unbinding A whirl of whisteles blowing. […]

Cross by Langston Hughes


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 mother And wished she were in hell, I’m sorry for that evil wish And now I wish her well My old man died […]

Children’s Rhymes by Langston Hughes


By what sends the white kids I ain’t sent: I know I can’t be President. What don’t bug them white kids sure bugs me: We know everybody ain’t free. Lies written down for white folks ain’t for us a-tall: Liberty And Justice– Huh!–For All? Langston Hughes —

Catch (Langston Hughes)


Big Boy came Carrying a mermaid On his shoulders And the mermaid Had her tail Curved Beneath his arm. Being a fisher boy, He’d found a fish To carry— Half fish, Half girl To marry. Langston Hughes —

Brass Spittoons (Langston Hughes)


Clean the spittoons, boy. Detroit, Chicago, Atlantic City, Palm Beach. Clean the spittoons. The steam in hotel kitchens, And the smoke in hotel lobbies, And the slime in hotel spittoons: Part of my life. Hey, boy! A nickel, A dime, A dollar, Two dollars a day. Hey, boy! A nickel, A dime, A dollar, Two […]

Bouquet


Gather quickly Out of darkness All the songs you know And throw them at the sun Before they melt Like snow Langston Hughes More Langston Hughes Poems —-

Bad Morning (Langston Hughes)


Here I sit With my shoes mismated. Lawdy-mercy! I’s frustrated! Langston Hughes ——-

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– My dream. And then the wall rose, Rose slowly, Slowly, Between me and my dream. Rose until it touched the sky– The wall. Shadow. I am black. I lie down […]

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