Harlem (Langston Hughes)
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or does it fester like a sore-
And then run?
Does it sink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over-
Like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
Like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
Poem above! I hadn't written in a while. My original idea for a next post was going to be about which dinosaur, land, air and water animal got the most (and which the least) sex based on bone structure and other traits, but I wasn't able to find many 'good' sources. I have given up on this (for now)
This poem has been analyzed quite a bit. If you took english lit or us history you have almost undoubtedly seen it. All the same, I like it a lot, and think it has inspired a lot of my modern writing.
One problem I have with my poetry is I add a lot of 'nothing' words, words to fill a quota so it can be a poem, but that detract from the actual emotion of the piece. Poetry is best with the words that come to mind, so you can feel the raw emotion easier.
The emotions here are obviously predominantly negative, but one part I've always liked is
"Or crust and sugar over-
Like a syrupy sweet?"
It subverts expectations, showing a positive light, and the line immediately after is more neutral then negative. It makes the end hit harder.
Usually my writing tends to have themes like this, I love repetition and focusing on a certain concept.
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or does it fester like a sore-
And then run?
Does it sink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over-
Like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
Like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
Poem above! I hadn't written in a while. My original idea for a next post was going to be about which dinosaur, land, air and water animal got the most (and which the least) sex based on bone structure and other traits, but I wasn't able to find many 'good' sources. I have given up on this (for now)
This poem has been analyzed quite a bit. If you took english lit or us history you have almost undoubtedly seen it. All the same, I like it a lot, and think it has inspired a lot of my modern writing.
One problem I have with my poetry is I add a lot of 'nothing' words, words to fill a quota so it can be a poem, but that detract from the actual emotion of the piece. Poetry is best with the words that come to mind, so you can feel the raw emotion easier.
The emotions here are obviously predominantly negative, but one part I've always liked is
"Or crust and sugar over-
Like a syrupy sweet?"
It subverts expectations, showing a positive light, and the line immediately after is more neutral then negative. It makes the end hit harder.
Usually my writing tends to have themes like this, I love repetition and focusing on a certain concept.
