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janelledorn's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
I can't believe I'd never read Langston Hughes before. I mean, I must have somewhere, at some point, but not all at once like this. Wow, what an amazing poet. He uses so many different styles and rhymes and themes and symbols, it's honestly amazing. He has a mind like no other, and it shows. And Brian Pinkney's art, too! What a perfect artist to accompany these poems. Together, they make a powerful couple, helping to illuminate and describe each other.
This is a beautiful compilation that deserves a spot on your bookshelf.
Review cross-listed here!
This is a beautiful compilation that deserves a spot on your bookshelf.
Review cross-listed here!
gijs's review
5.0
Just got to know Langston Hughes'work; I'v missed out; what a collection! After 'The weary blues' this was a magisterial second foray into his poems. Some favorites:
Poem
I loved my friend.
He went away from me.
There’s nothing more to say.
The poem ends, Soft as it began—
I loved my friend.
Walkers with the Dawn
Being walkers with the dawn and morning,
Walkers with the sun and morning,
We are not afraid of night,
Nor days of gloom,
Nor darkness—
Being walkers with the sun and morning.
Dream Dust
Gather out of star-dust
Earth-dust,
Cloud-dust,
Storm-dust,
And splinters of hail,
One handful of dream-dust
Not for sale.
Poem
I loved my friend.
He went away from me.
There’s nothing more to say.
The poem ends, Soft as it began—
I loved my friend.
Walkers with the Dawn
Being walkers with the dawn and morning,
Walkers with the sun and morning,
We are not afraid of night,
Nor days of gloom,
Nor darkness—
Being walkers with the sun and morning.
Dream Dust
Gather out of star-dust
Earth-dust,
Cloud-dust,
Storm-dust,
And splinters of hail,
One handful of dream-dust
Not for sale.
ainsleybelle22's review against another edition
5.0
I've been meaning to review this for a while. This poetry collection was beautiful from start to finish. It was divided into six sections, each building on top of the other. At first, the poems were more lighthearted and whimsical, but as the collection went on highlighted the struggles Hughes and other people have gone through in such a heartwrenching yet beautiful way. I enjoyed how some poems were based on blues, it added a nice touch. Overall, I would highly recommend reading this, and I can't wait to check out what else Langston Hughes has written.
theperksofbeingmarissa's review against another edition
4.0
There are so many great poems that resonated with me. Hughes was soooooo freaking talented.
I’ve head the iconic “I, Too” since I was a kid, so imagine my face when I came across that poem in this book lol
Ok
Here are my two favorite poems from this collection:
Merry - Go - Round
“Colored child at carnival:
Where is the Jim Crow section
On this merry-go-round,
Mister, cause I want to ride?
Down South where I come from
White and colored
Can’t sit side by side.
Down south on the train
There’s a Jim Crow car.
On the bus we’re put in the back -
But there ain’t no back
To a merry-go-round!
Where’s the horse
For a kid that’s black?”
Parisian Beggar Woman
“Once you were young,
Now, hunched in the cold,
Nobody cares
That you are old.
Once you were beautiful.
Now, I’m the street,
Now one remembers
Your lips were sweet.
On, the withered old woman
Of rue Fontaine,
Nobody but death
Will kiss you again.”
I’ve head the iconic “I, Too” since I was a kid, so imagine my face when I came across that poem in this book lol
Ok
Here are my two favorite poems from this collection:
Merry - Go - Round
“Colored child at carnival:
Where is the Jim Crow section
On this merry-go-round,
Mister, cause I want to ride?
Down South where I come from
White and colored
Can’t sit side by side.
Down south on the train
There’s a Jim Crow car.
On the bus we’re put in the back -
But there ain’t no back
To a merry-go-round!
Where’s the horse
For a kid that’s black?”
Parisian Beggar Woman
“Once you were young,
Now, hunched in the cold,
Nobody cares
That you are old.
Once you were beautiful.
Now, I’m the street,
Now one remembers
Your lips were sweet.
On, the withered old woman
Of rue Fontaine,
Nobody but death
Will kiss you again.”
amelody's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
5.0
"I have known rivers,
Ancient dusky rivers.
My Soul has grown deep like the rivers."
Ancient dusky rivers.
My Soul has grown deep like the rivers."
czarina_misha's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Originally published in 1932, this new edition (from 1994) is beautifully illustrated by Brian Pinkney and includes seven extra poems. “Poem” will always be my favorite work by Hughes. There are so many sweet poems in this collection. Hughes is known as one of the great voices of 1930s Harlem. His work is soft and dreamy, but incredibly powerful. This is great collection to introduce readers to Hughes or to poetry.