My+Favorite+Poet

(1902-1967) __Biography:__
 * __ Langston Hughes __**

James Mercer Langston Hughes was born on February 1, 1902 in Joplin Missouri. Hughes had many odd jobs as he grew into adulthood, but in 1924 when he moved to Washington D.C., he published his first book of Poetry, //The Weary// Blues, and from then on, Hughes went to write "novels, short stories and plays, as well as poetry". In 1930, Hughes won the Harmon gold medal for Literature with his first novel, //Not Without Laughter//. Hughes used Walt Whitman, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, and Carl Sandburg as his main influences in his writings. Many of Hughes' poems discussed the racial struggle between Blacks and Whites from the 20's through the 60's. Unfortunately, Hughes had complications with prostate cancer; thus, he died on May 22, 1967.

__Samples of His Work:__

__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.

__As I Grew Older__

It was a long time ago. I have almost forgotten my dream. But it was there then, In front of me, Bright like a sun-- My dream.

And then the wall rose, Rose slowly, Slowly, Between me and my dream. Rose slowly, slowly, Dimming,

Hiding, The light of my dream. Rose until it touched the sky-- The wall.

Shadow. I am black.

I lie down in the shadow. No longer the light of my dream before me, Above me. Only the thick wall. Only the shadow.

My hands! My dark hands! Break through the wall! Find my dream! Help me to shatter this darkness, To smash this night, To break this shadow Into a thousand lights of sun, Into a thousand whirling dreams Of sun!

__The South__

The lazy, laughing South With blood on its mouth. The sunny-faced South, Beast-strong, Idiot-brained. The child-minded South Scratching in the dead fire's ashes For a Negro's bones. Cotton and the moon, Warmth, earth, warmth, The sky, the sun, the stars, The magnolia-scented South. Beautiful, like a woman, Seductive as a dark-eyed whore, Passionate, cruel, Honey-lipped, syphilitic-- That is the South. And I, who am black, would love her But she spits in my face. And I, who am black, Would give her many rare gifts But she turns her back upon me. So now I seek the North-- The cold-faced North, For she, they say, Is a kinder mistress, And in her house my children May escape the spell of the South.

__Sport __

Life For him Must be The shivering of A great drum Beaten with swift sticks Then at the closing hour <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The lights go out <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And there is no music at all <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And death becomes <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">An empty cabaret <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And eternity an unblown saxophone <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And yesterday <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A glass of gin <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Drunk long <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ago.

__Justification:__ Langston Hughes is my favorite poet because I enjoy reading about the various topics he discusses in his poetry, and I find his works easy to comprehend and analyze. He uses a simplistic style of writing that is effective yet enjoyable to read. He is clear in his writing what he hopes to get across to his audience, and I believe he does a great job at doing so, and his poems usually are short and to the point which I enjoy in poetry.

[|Poetry Recitation]

Works Cited <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hunter, Langston Hughes - Poem. "Dreams Poem." Poemhunter.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2015. "Langston Hughes." Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 01 May 2015.