What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or does it explode?
LANGSTON HUGHESWhat happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or does it explode?
LANGSTON HUGHESWell, when Christ comes back this time, I hope He comes back mad His own self. I hope He drives the Jim Crowers out of their high places, every living last one of them from Washington to Texas.
LANGSTON HUGHESLife for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
LANGSTON HUGHESWhen poems stop talking about the moon and begin to mention poverty, trade unions, color, color lines and colonies, somebody tells the police.
LANGSTON HUGHESI wish the rent Was heaven sent.
LANGSTON HUGHESA world I dream where black or white, Whatever race you be, Will share the bounties of the Earth And every man is free.
LANGSTON HUGHESI look at my own body With eyes no longer blind- And I see that my own hands can make The world that’s in my mind.
LANGSTON HUGHESWhy should I want to be white? I am a Negro – and beautiful!
LANGSTON HUGHESTeach us all to do right, Lord, please, and to get along together with that atom bomb on this earth because I do not want it to fall on me-nor Thee-nor anybody living. Amen!
LANGSTON HUGHESYet the ivory gods, And the ebony gods, And the gods of diamond-jade, Are only silly puppet gods That people themselves Have made.
LANGSTON HUGHESBoth of them were very good and kind – the one who went to church and the one who didn’t. And no doubt from them I learned to like both Christians and sinners equally well.
LANGSTON HUGHESLike a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air and you.
LANGSTON HUGHESLooks like what drives me crazy Don’t have no effect on you– But I’m gonna keep on at it Till it drives you crazy, too.
LANGSTON HUGHESThe calm, Cool face of the river, Asked me for a kiss.
LANGSTON HUGHESI don’t dare start thinking in the morning. I don’t dare start thinking in the morning. If I thought thoughts in bed, Them thoughts would bust my head– So I don’t dare start thinking in the morning.
LANGSTON HUGHESThe only way to get a thing done is to start to do it, then keep on doing it, and finally you’ll finish it.
LANGSTON HUGHES