Section: «Poems»
Verse (ancient Greek ὁ στίχος — row, structure), a term in versification used in several meanings:
artistic speech organized by division into rhythmically commensurate segments; poetry in the narrow sense; in particular, it implies the properties of versification of a particular tradition ("antique verse", "Akhmatova's verse", etc.);
a line of poetic text organized according to a certain rhythmic pattern ("My uncle of the most honest rules").
Madam And The Rent Man
The rent man knocked.He said, Howdy-do?I said, WhatCan I do for you?He said, You knowYour rent is due.I said, Listen,Before I'd payI'd go to HadesAnd..
© Langston Hughes
Motto
I play it coolI dig all jiveThat's the reasonI stay aliveMy mottoAs I live and learnIs dig and be dug in return
© Langston Hughes
Demand
Listen!Dear dream of utter aliveness-Touching my body of utter death-Tell me, O quickly! dream of aliveness,The flaming source of your bright..
© Langston Hughes
Final Curve
When you turn the cornerAnd you run into yourselfThen you know that you have turnedAll the corners that are left
© Langston Hughes
Peace
We passed their graves:The dead men there,Winners or losers,Did not care.In the darkThey could not seeWho had gainedThe victory.
© Langston Hughes
Dream Boogie
Good morning, daddy!Ain't you heardThe boogie-woogie rumbleOf a dream deferred?Listen closely:You'll hear their feetBeating out and beating out a..
© Langston Hughes
Bound No'th Blues
Goin' down the road, Lawd,Goin' down the road.Down the road, Lawd,Way,way down the road.Got to find somebodyTo help me carry this load.Road's in..
© Langston Hughes
Easy Boogie
Down in the bassThat steady beatWalking walking walkingLike marching feet.Down in the bassThey easy roll,Rolling like I like itIn my soul.Riffs..
© Langston Hughes
Helen Keller
She,In the dark,Found lightBrighter than many ever see.She,Within herself,Found loveliness,Through the soul's own mastery.And now the world..
© Langston Hughes
Silence
I catch the patternOf your silenceBefore you speakI do not needTo hear a word.In your silenceEvery tone I seekIs heard.
© Langston Hughes
The Ballad Of The Landlord
Landlord, landlord,My roof has sprung a leak.Don't you 'member I told you about itWay last week?Landlord, landlord,These steps is broken down.When..
© Langston Hughes
In Time Of Silver Rain
In time of silver rainThe earth puts forth new life again,Green grasses growAnd flowers lift their heads,And over all the plainThe wonder spreadsOf..
© Langston Hughes
Gods
The ivory gods,And the ebony gods,And the gods of diamond and jade,Sit silently on their temple shelvesWhile the peopleAre afraid.Yet the ivory..
© Langston Hughes
Enemy
It would be niceIn any case,To someday meet youFace to faceWalking downThe road to hell...As I come upFeeling swell.
© Langston Hughes
Ardella
I would liken youTo a night without starsWere it not for your eyes.I would liken youTo a sleep without dreamsWere it not for your songs.
© Langston Hughes
I Continue To Dream
I take my dreams and make of them a bronze vaseand a round fountain with a beautiful statue in its center.And a song with a broken heart and I ask..
© Langston Hughes
Madam And The Phone Bill
You say I O.K.edLONG DISTANCE?O.K.ed it when?My goodness, CentralThat was then!I'm mad and disgustedWith that Negro now.I don't pay no..
© Langston Hughes
Love Song For Lucinda
LoveIs a ripe plumGrowing on a purple tree.Taste it onceAnd the spell of its enchantmentWill never let you be.LoveIs a bright starGlowing in far..
© Langston Hughes
Bouquet
Gather quicklyOut of darknessAll the songs you knowAnd throw them at the sunBefore they meltLike snow
© Langston Hughes
Madam And Her Madam
I worked for a woman,She wasn't mean--But she had a twelve-roomHouse to clean.Had to get breakfast,Dinner, and supper, too--Then take care of her..
© Langston Hughes
Wake
Tell all my mournersTo mourn in red --Cause there ain't no senseIn my bein' dead.
© Langston Hughes
Walkers With The Dawn
Being walkers with the dawn and morning,Walkers with the sun and morning,We are not afraid of night,Nor days of gloom,Nor darkness-Being walkers with..
© Langston Hughes
Sea Calm
How still,How strangely stillThe water is today,It is not goodFor waterTo be so still that way.
© Langston Hughes
Po' Boy Blues
When I was home deSunshine seemed like gold.When I was home deSunshine seemed like gold.Since I come up North deWhole damn world's turned cold.I was..
© Langston Hughes