Poems of Langston Hughes The Negro Speaks of Rivers(1926) I've known rivers: I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins My soul has grown deep like rivers I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young. I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep. I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it. I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans,and I've seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset. I've known rivers: Ancient.dusky rivers. My soul has grown deep like rivers. Puzzled(1949) Here on the edge of hell Stands Harlem- Remembering the old lies, The old kicks in the back, The old,Be patient, They told us before. Sure,we remember. Now,when the man at the corner store Says sugar's gone up another two cents, And bread one, And there's a new tax on cigarettes- We remember the job we never had, Never could get, And can't have now Because we're colored So we stand here On the edge of hell In Harlem And look out on the world And we're gonna do In the face of What we remember
Poems of Langston Hughes The Negro Speaks of Rivers (1926) I’ve known rivers: I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins. My soul has grown deep like rivers. I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young. I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep. I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it. I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans, and I’ve seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset. I’ve known rivers: Ancient, dusky rivers. My soul has grown deep like rivers. Puzzled (1949) Here on the edge of hell Stands Harlem— Remembering the old lies, The old kicks in the back, The old, Be patient, They told us before. Sure, we remember. Now, when the man at the corner store Says sugar’s gone up another two cents, And bread one, And there’s a new tax on cigarettes— We remember the job we never had, Never could get, And can’t have now Because we’re colored. So we stand here On the edge of hell In Harlem And look out on the world And we’re gonna do In the face of What we remember
Poems of Langston Hughes Mama and Daughter(1949) Mama,please brush off my coat. I'm going down the street. Where're you going,daughter? To see my sugar-sweet. Who is your sugar,honey? Turn around-I'll brush behind. He is that young man,mama. I can't get off my mind. Daughter,once upon a time Let me brush the hem- Your father,yes,he was the one! I felt like that about him. But it was a long time ago He up and went his way. I hope that wild young son-of-a-gun Rots in hell today! Mama,dad couldn't be still young. He was young yesterday. He was young when he- Turn around! So I can brush your back,I say! The Weary Blues(1926) Droning a drowsy syncopated tune, Rocking back and forth to a mellow croon, I heard a Negro play. Down on Lenox Avenue the other night By the pale dull pallor of an old gas light He did a lazy sway.... He did a lazy sway.... To the tune 0'those Weary Blues. With his ebony hands on each ivory key
Poems of Langston Hughes Mama and Daughter (1949) Mama, please brush of my coat. I’m going down the street. Where’re you going, daughter? To see my sugar-sweet. Who is your sugar, honey? Turn around – I’ll brush behind. He is that young man, mama, I can’t get of my mind. Daughter, once upon a time – Let me brush the hem – Your father, yes, he was the one! I felt like that about him. But it was a long time ago He up and went his way. I hope that wild young son-of-a-gun Rots in hell today! Mama, dad couldn’t be still young. He was young yesterday. He was young when he – Turn around! So I can brush your back, I say! The Weary Blues (1926) Droning a drowsy syncopated tune, Rocking back and forth to a mellow croon, I heard a Negro play. Down on Lenox Avenue the other night By the pale dull pallor of an old gas light He did a lazy sway.... He did a lazy sway.... To the tune 0'those Weary Blues. With his ebony hands on each ivory key
Poems of Langston Hughes He made that poor piano moan with melody O Blues! Swaying to and fro on his rickety stool He played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool. Sweet Blues! Coming from a black man's soul OBlues! In a deep song voice with a melancholy tone I heard that Negro sing,that old piano moan- "Ain't got nobody in all this world, Ain't got nobody but ma self, I's gwine to quit ma frownin' And put ma troubles on the shelf." Thump,thump,thump,went his foot on the floor. He played a few chords then he sang some more- “I got the Weary Blues And I can't be satisfied- Got the Weary Blues And can't be satisfied- I ain't happy no mo' And I wish that I had died." And far into the night he crooned that tune. The stars went out and so did the moon. The singer stopped playing and went to bed While the Weary Blues echoed through his head. He slept like a rock or a man that's dead
Poems of Langston Hughes He made that poor piano moan with melody. O Blues! Swaying to and fro on his rickety stool He played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool. Sweet Blues! Coming from a black man's soul. O Blues! In a deep song voice with a melancholy tone I heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan— "Ain't got nobody in all this world, Ain't got nobody but ma self, I’s gwine to quit ma frownin' And put ma troubles on the shelf." Thump, thump, thump, went his foot on the floor. He played a few chords then he sang some more— “I got the Weary Blues And I can't be satisfied— Got the Weary Blues And can't be satisfied— I ain't happy no mo’ And I wish that I had died." And far into the night he crooned that tune. The stars went out and so did the moon. The singer stopped playing and went to bed While the Weary Blues echoed through his head. He slept like a rock or a man that's dead
