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Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes

Love Song for Lucinda

Love
Is a ripe plum
Growing on a purple tree.
Taste it once
And the spell of its enchantment
Will never let you be.
 
Love
Is a bright star
Glowing in far Southern skies.
Look too hard
And its burning flame
Will always hurt your eyes.
 
Love
Is a high mountain
Stark in a windy sky.
If you
Would never lose your breath
Do not climb too high.

#Americans #Blacks

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Silence

I catch the pattern Of your silence Before you speak I do not need To hear a word.
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We passed their graves: The dead men there, Winners or losers, Did not care. In the dark
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I live on a park bench. You, Park Avenue. Hell of a distance Between us two. I beg a dime for dinner—
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When a man starts out with nothing… When a man starts out with his han… Empty, but clean, When a man starts to build a world… He starts first with himself
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Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams
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The rent man knocked. He said, Howdy—do? I said, What Can I do for you? He said, You know
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The Negro Speaks of Rivers

I’ve known rivers: I’ve known rivers ancient as the w… My soul has grown deep like the ri… I bathed in the Euphrates when da… I built my hut near the Congo and…
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Easy Boogie

Down in the bass That steady beat Walking walking walking Like marching feet. Down in the bass
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Negro Speaks of Rivers

I’ve known rivers: I’ve known rivers ancient as the w… flow of human blood in human veins My soul has grown deep like the ri… I bathed in the Euphrates when da…
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Bad Morning

Here I sit With my shoes mismated. Lawdy—mercy! I’s frustrated!
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—
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I sat there singing her Songs in the dark. She said; 'I do not understand The words’.
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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
The Ballad of the Landlord

Landlord, landlord, My roof has sprung a leak. Don’t you 'member I told you abou… Way last week? Landlord, landlord,
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