James Langston Hughes was born on February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri, to Carrie Langston Hughes and James Hughes. He published his first book of poems, The Weary Blues, in 1926. He was dubbed the "Poet Laureate of Harlem." Hughes was a major figure of the Harlem renaissance. He wrote novels, stories, songs, speeches, and children's books. His short story collections are The Way of White Folks and Laughing to Keep From Crying (1930). He described his life and travels in The Big Sea (1940) and I Wonder as I Wander (1956). Hughes is one of America's great writers. He died on May 22, 1967, in New York City.
American Heartbreak
I am the American heartbreak--
The rock on which Freedom
Stumped its toe--
The great mistake
That Jamestown make
Long ago.
Angola Question Mark
Don't know why I,
Black,
Must still stand
With my back
To the last frontier
Of fear
In my own land.
Don't know why I
Must turn into
A Mau Mau
And lift my hand
Against my fellow man
To live on my own land.
But it is so--
And being so
I know
For you and me
There's
Woe.
Ballad of the Landlord
Landlord, landlord,
My roof has sprung a leak.
Don't you 'member I told you about it
Way last week?
Landlord, landlord,
These steps is broken down.
When you come up yourself
It's a wonder you don't fall down.
Ten Bucks you say I owe you?
Ten Bucks you say is due?
Well, that's Ten Bucks more'n I'll pay you
Till you fix this house up new.
What? You gonna get eviction orders?
You gonna cut off my heat?
You gonna take my furniture and
Throw it in the street?
Um-huh! You talking high and mighty.
Talk on--till you get through.
You ain't gonna be able to say a word
If I land my fist on you.
Police! Police!
Come and get this man!
He's trying to ruin the government
And overturn the land!
Copper's whistle!
Patrol bell!
Arrest.
Precinct Station.
Iron cell.
Headlines in press:
MAN THREATENS LANDLORD
TENANT HELD NO BAIL
JUDGE GIVES NEGRO 90 DAYS IN COUNTY JAIL
Cross
My old man's a white old man
And my old mother's black.
If ever I cursed my white old man
I take my curses back.
If ever I cursed my black old mother
And wished she were in hell,
I'm sorry for that evil wish
And now I wish her well
My old man died in a fine big house.
My ma died in a shack.
I wonder were I'm going to die,
Being neither white nor black?
Hold Fast to 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
Song for a Dark Girl
Way Down South in Dixie
(Break the heart of me)
They hung my dark young lover
To a cross roads tree.
Way Down South in Dixie
(Bruised body high in air)
I asked the white Lord Jesus
What was the use prayer.
Way Down South in Dixie
(Break the heart of me)
Love is a naked shadow
On a gnarled and naked tree.
Luck
Sometimes a crumb falls
From the tables of joy,
Sometimes a bone
Is flung.
To some people
Love is given,
To others
Only Heaven.
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