Langston Hughes Poetry

Winter Moon How thin and sharp is the moon tonight! How thin and sharp and ghostly white Is the slim curved crook of the moon tonight!  

The Kids in School with Me When I studied my A-B-C's And the Grecian kid And learned arithmetic, And the girl with the Chinese eyes-- I also learned in public school We were a regular Noah's ark, What makes America tick: Every race beneath the sun, The kid in front But our motto for graduation was: And the kid behind One for All and All for One! And the kid across the aisle, The Italian kid And the Polish kid And the kid across from me-- And the girl with the Irish smile, Just American kids together The colored kid The kids in school with me. And the Spanish kid   And the Russian kid my size, The Jewish kid

April Rain Song Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby. The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk. The rain makes running pools in the gutter. The rain plays a little sleep-song on our roof at night- And I love the rain.

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 the floor— Bare. But all the time  I'se been a-climbin' on, And reachin' landin's, And turnin' corners, And sometimes goin' in the dark Where there ain't been no light. So, boy, don't you turn back. Don't you set down on the steps. 'Cause you finds it's kinder hard. Don't you fall now— For I'se still goin', honey, I'se still climbin', And life for me ain't been no crystal stair. 

Dreams Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow.

I, Too I, too, sing America. Nobody’ll dare Say to me,   Say to me, I am the darker brother. “Eat in the kitchen," They send me to eat in the kitchen Then. When company comes, But I laugh, Besides, And eat well, They’ll see how beautiful I am And grow strong. And be ashamed— Tomorrow, I, too, am America. I’ll be at the table When company comes.

In Time Of Silver Rain In time of silver rain  The earth  Puts forth new life again  Green grasses grow  And flowers lift their heads  And over all the plain  The wonder spreads In time of silver rain  The butterflies  Lift silken wings  To catch a rainbow  And trees put forth  New leaves to sing  In joy beneath the sky  As down the roadway  Passing, boys and girls  go singing too,  In time of silver rain  Of life, Of life!   When spring And life. Are new.

I Dream a World I dream a world where man No other man will scorn, Where love will bless the earth And peace its paths adorn I dream a world where all Will know sweet freedom's way, Where greed no longer saps the soul Nor avarice blights our day. A world I dream where black or white, Whatever race you be, Will share the bounties of the earth And every man is free, Where wretchedness will hang its head And joy, like a pearl, Attends the needs of all mankind- Of such I dream, my world! 

The Blues When the shoe strings break On both your shoes And you're in a hurry-- That's the blues. When you go to buy a candy bar And you've lost the dime you had-- Slipped through a hole in your pocket somewhere-- That's the blues, too, and bad!

Poor Rover Rover was in clover With a bone On the front lawn-- But Rover's fun was over When his bone Was gone. Poor Rover

Hope for Harlem There’s a new skyline in Harlem, It’s tall and proud and fine. At night its walls are gleaming Where a thousand windows shine. There’s a new skyline in Harlem That belongs to you and me As the dark old ugly houses Tumble into memory- Memories of those dingy stairs, Memory of my helpless prayers, Memories of the landlord’s stares When you asked him for a few repairs Now there’s a new skyline in Harlem It’s rising tall and free-

Helen Keller She, In the dark, Found light Brighter than many ever see. She, Within herself, Found loveliness, Through the soul's own mastery. And now the world receives From her dower: The message of the strength Of inner power.