Langston Hughes Poetry Winter Moon How thin and

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

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

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 Of life, Of life! 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 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 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. Memories of those dingy stairs, Memory of my helpless prayers, Memories of the landlord’s stares When you asked him for a few repairs There’s a new skyline in Harlem Now there’s a new skyline in That belongs to you and me Harlem As the dark old ugly houses It’s rising tall and free. Tumble into memory-

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.