Langston Hughes (1902-1967)

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Langston Hughes (1902-1967)
Pat C.
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To fling my arms wide In some place of the sun,
To whirl and to dance Till the white day is
done. Then rest at cool evening Beneath a tall
tree While night comes on gently, Dark like me--
That is my dream! To fling my arms wide In the
face of the sun, Dance! Whirl! Whirl! Till the
quick day is done. Rest at pale evening . . . A
tall, slim tree . . . Night coming tenderly
Black like me.
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When I was home de Sunshine seemed like gold.
When I was home de Sunshine seemed like gold.
Since I come up North de Whole damn world's
turned cold.
I fell in love with A gal I thought was kind.
Fell in love with A gal I thought was kind. She
made me lose ma money An' almost lose ma mind.
I was a good boy, Never done no wrong. Yes, I was
a good boy, Never done no wrong, But this world
is weary An' de road is hard an' long
Weary, weary, Weary early in de morn. Weary,
weary, Early, early in de morn. I's so weary I
wish I'd never been born
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Background
-Hughes was born in 1902 in Joplin, Missouri.
-Langston Hughes grew up in Lawrence, Kansas,
and also lived in Illinois, Ohio, and
Mexico. -Raised by his grandmother, Mary
Langston. -Before living off his poetry,
Langston followed up on certain jobs like
assistant cook, busboy, seaman, and
launderer. -Langstons first published book of
poetry was The Weary Blues. IT was published by
Alfred A. Knopf in 1926.
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Education

• Columbia University
• Lincoln University in Pennsylvania

- Hughes won the Harmon gold medal for
literature.
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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 For when dreams go Life is a barren
field Frozen with snow.
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Hughes Influences

• Walt Whitman
• Carl Sandburg
• Paul Laurence Dunbar
• Claude McKay

• His Grandmother (Mary Langston)
• His Grandfather (John Mercer Langston)

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Work Cited
www.poets.org http//www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/po
ets/g_l/hughes/life.htm falcon.jmu.edu/ramseyil/
hughes.htm