Poetry of the Day

June 23, 2006 by Marc Lamont Hill

For a variety of reasons, I’ve been in a pretty bad mood all week. Today is no different. I chose this week’s poetry hoping that it would both reflect my mood and cheer me up. This week’s featured poet is the legendary Langston Hughes.

Bad Morning

Here I sit
With my shoes mismated.
Lawdy-mercy!
I’s frustrated!

Dream Deferred

What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore–
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over–
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?

Juke Box Love Song

I could take the Harlem night
and wrap around you,
Take the neon lights and make a crown,
Take the Lenox Avenue busses,
Taxis, subways,
And for your love song tone their rumble down.
Take Harlem’s heartbeat,
Make a drumbeat,
Put it on a record, let it whirl,
And while we listen to it play,
Dance with you till day–
Dance with you, my sweet brown Harlem girl.

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.

Categories: MLH
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3 Comments

1. Kyron wrote:

Cheer up Marc. Things could be worse y’know, Bill Cosby could be programming WAOK’s number into his speed dial right now and be patiently waiting for 1pm in his lair. Love the poetry though, one of my favorite poets too

June 23, 2006 @ 11:31 am

2. SammyBee = DIVATUDE wrote:

totally agree! I used to read all his stuff when I was in high school. i need to refresh myself with his stuff again.

June 23, 2006 @ 2:15 pm

3. RAD wrote:

Ooooh DC – that’s a good one!

June 23, 2006 @ 3:16 pm

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