By Langston Hughes (published in 1951)
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?
This is the first poem I ever memorized. I learned it for a Black History Month presentation while in middle school and it remains my favorite poem today.
I have a couple of questions regarding this poem.
ReplyDeleteWhy does Langston use 6 questions and only 1 answer?
How could a civil rights leader use the poem dream deferred in support of their cause?
I think because the one answer applies to all six questions.
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