“Drum”
Langston Hughes
1902-1967 American

Bear in mind
That death is a drum
Beating forever

Till the last worms come

To answer its call,

Till the last stars fall,

Until the last atom
Is no atom at all,

Until time is lost
And there is no air
And space itself
Is nothing nowhere,
Death is a drum,

A signal drum,
Calling life

To come!

Come!

Come!

“Suicide’s Note”
Langston Hughes
1902-1967 American

The calm,
Cool face of the river
Asked me for a kiss.

“I, Too, Sing America”
Langston Hughes
1902-1967 American

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.

“Dream Deferred”
Langston Hughes
1902-1967 American

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?