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").
My People
The night is beautiful,So the faces of my people.The stars are beautiful,So the eyes of my people.Beautiful, also, is the sun.Beautiful, also, are..
© Langston Hughes
Cultural Exchange
In the Quarter of the NegroesWhere the doors are doors of paperDust of dingy atomsBlows a scratchy sound.Amorphous jack-o'-Lanterns caperAnd the wind..
© Langston Hughes
Justice
That Justice is a blind goddessIs a thing to which we black are wise:Her bandage hides two festering soresThat once perhaps were eyes.
© Langston Hughes
Dream Variations
To fling my arms wideIn some place of the sun,To whirl and to danceTill the white day is done.Then rest at cool eveningBeneath a tall treeWhile night..
© Langston Hughes
The Dream Keeper
Bring me all of your dreams,You dreamer,Bring me all yourHeart melodiesThat I may wrap themIn a blue cloud-clothAway from the too-rough fingersOf the..
© Langston Hughes
Life Is Fine
I went down to the river,I set down on the bank.I tried to think but couldn't,So I jumped in and sank.I came up once and hollered!I came up twice and..
© Langston Hughes
Children's Rhymes
By what sendsthe white kidsI ain't sent:I know I can'tbe President.What don't bugthem white kidssure bugs me:We know everybodyain't free.Lies written..
© Langston Hughes
The Negro Mother
Children, I come back todayTo tell you a story of the long dark wayThat I had to climb, that I had to knowIn order that the race might live and..
© Langston Hughes
I, Too
I, too, sing America.I am the darker brother.They send me to eat in the kitchenWhen company comes,But I laugh,And eat well,And grow..
© Langston Hughes
Cross
My old man's a white old manAnd my old mother's black.If ever I cursed my white old manI take my curses back.If ever I cursed my black old motherAnd..
© Langston Hughes
Democracy
Democracy will not comeToday, this yearNor everThrough compromise and fear.I have as much rightAs the other fellow hasTo standOn my two feetAnd own..
© Langston Hughes
Dream Deferred
What happens to a dream deferred?Does it dry upLike a raisin in the sun?Or fester like a sore--And then run?Does it stink like rotten meat?Or crust..
© Langston Hughes
April Rain Song
Let the rain kiss youLet the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid dropsLet the rain sing you a lullabyThe rain makes still pools on the..
© Langston Hughes
Mother To Son
Well, son, I'll tell you:Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.It's had tacks in it,And splinters,And boards torn up,And places with no carpet on..
© 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..
© Langston Hughes
Dreams
Hold fast to dreamsFor if dreams dieLife is a broken-winged birdThat cannot fly.Hold fast to dreamsFor when dreams goLife is a barren fieldFrozen..
© Langston Hughes
Still Another Day: I
Today is that day, the day that carrieda desperate light that since has died.Don't let the squatters know:let's keep it all between us,day, between..
© Pablo Neruda
Still Another Day: XVII/Men
The truth is in the prologue. Death to the romantic fool,to the expert in solitary confinement,I'm the same as the teacher from Colombia,the rotarian..
© Pablo Neruda
Ode To Ironing
Poetry is white:it comes from water swathed in drops,it wrinkles and gathers,this planet's skin has to spread out,the sea's whiteness has to be..
© Pablo Neruda
Unity
There is something dense, united, settled in the depths,repeating its number, its identical sign.How it is noted that stones have touched time,in..
© Pablo Neruda
Ode To The Cat
The animals were imperfect,long-tailed,unfortunate in their heads.Little by little theyput themselves together,making themselves a..
© Pablo Neruda
Ode To Age
I don't believe in age.All old peoplecarryin their eyes,a child,and children,at timesobserve us with theeyes of wise ancients.Shall we measurelifein..
© Pablo Neruda
Ode to Hope
Oceanic dawnat the centerof my life,waves like grapes,the sky's solitude,you fill meand floodthe complete sea,the undiminished sky,tempoand space,sea..
© Pablo Neruda