Langston Hughes

"Reprint of Langston Hughes' book of poems The Weary Blues with a new introduction by the poet Kevin Young"--

The Weary Blues

Lindsay

Your faces are whirling lights of loveliness and splendor, too. 

All the tom-toms of the jungles beat in my blood, 

And all the wild hot moons of the jungles shine in my soul. 

A silent woman lies between two lovers— 

And all three covered with a sheet of pain.

The wind has blown all the cloud- garments 

Is the slim curved crook of the moon tonight!

-"TO A BLACK DANCER IN “THE LITTLE SAVOY”"

- "TO A BLACK DANCER IN “THE LITTLE SAVOY”"

Favorites:
- "THE CAT AND THE SAXOPHONE (2 A. M.)"
- "CABARET"
- "HARLEM NIGHT CLUB"
- "TO A BLACK DANCER IN “THE LITTLE SAVOY”"
- "DREAM VARIATION"
- "WINTER MOON"
- "MARCH MOON"
- "CROSS"
- "THE SOUTH"
- "HARLEM NIGHT SONG"
- "CARIBBEAN SUNSET"
- "SICK ROOM"
- "THE DREAM KEEPER"
- "LAMENT FOR DARK PEOPLES"
- "AFRAID"
- "POEM"
- "SUMMER NIGHT"
- "THE WHITE ONES"

Immediately celebrated as a tour de force upon its release, Langston Hughes's first published collection of poems still offers a powerful reflection of the Black experience. From "The Weary Blues" to "Dream Variation," Hughes writes clearly and colorfully, and his words remain prophetic.

rumbledethumps

This is the first book of poetry Hughes published, and the first poetry of his I've read. It's amazing. Most of these are very short poems, but they cover a wide range of subjects. Most are about Harlem in the 20s and the experience of being a black man in America. There are also love poems, picaresque poems, poems about the open ocean, and poems about trees. All of them are good. Some of them are truly great. I definitely want to read more of his work.

The Weary Blues

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