Poems Inspired by Langston Hughes
#LangstonHughes
Poems inspired by the American poet, novelist and activist Langston Hughes. Here you'll find poetry using the style, themes or characters found in poems, prose and plays by Langston Hughes. Along with poems about Hughes himself, including praise, criticism and memorials.
russell_snow
Poem Published
7th Jan 2020 6:28pm
7th Jan 2020 6:28pm
Opportunity Bridge
(1920's jazz poetry)
We were born crawlin' on de
Coal side of de tracks
We were born crawlin' on de
Cold side of de tracks
Burnin' holes in our pockets
Soon's we buyin' a shirt an' some slacks
An' we were born dyin' on de first
Day we walked
We were born dyin' on de first
Day we walked
Now we hearin' 'bout a life to live
Out beyond de docks
Lawd knows our train
Left de station an' it's long gone
Lawd knows our train
Left de station an' it's long long gone
Long long, long...
We were born crawlin' on de
Coal side of de tracks
We were born crawlin' on de
Cold side of de tracks
Burnin' holes in our pockets
Soon's we buyin' a shirt an' some slacks
An' we were born dyin' on de first
Day we walked
We were born dyin' on de first
Day we walked
Now we hearin' 'bout a life to live
Out beyond de docks
Lawd knows our train
Left de station an' it's long gone
Lawd knows our train
Left de station an' it's long long gone
Long long, long...
#dreams
#mountains
#lyrics
#LangstonHughes
#trains
458 reads
8 Comments
slipalong
Poem Published
5th Jan 2020 10:01am
5th Jan 2020 10:01am
The blues I knew
In the main parade
lounging on the bar with a dead beer
Heard strains from a small honky-tonk
Needin some more suthrn cheeer
The piano man he played
The ol blues in shades of grey
tun'es my granny sang
Pullin me to hum along
From hard work and pain
The blues down payment
Not content but lament
From blood and toil was it distilled
Dat coin dat paid the bill
Drums his foot while we all nod
The blues of street of dust and hot
Dat beaten fields of sweat
The shackled, servile just like dogs ...
lounging on the bar with a dead beer
Heard strains from a small honky-tonk
Needin some more suthrn cheeer
The piano man he played
The ol blues in shades of grey
tun'es my granny sang
Pullin me to hum along
From hard work and pain
The blues down payment
Not content but lament
From blood and toil was it distilled
Dat coin dat paid the bill
Drums his foot while we all nod
The blues of street of dust and hot
Dat beaten fields of sweat
The shackled, servile just like dogs ...
#oppression
#music
#LangstonHughes
537 reads
4 Comments
Ahavati
Tams
Tams
Poem Published
4th Jan 2020 1:48am
4th Jan 2020 1:48am
Water and White Cotton
( after Langston Hughes )
Blood is Life
the good book says;
but, water comprises the majority
of our heart and lungs—
enables white bones
to hold up this black body—
its silt reshaping
brief lessons in history
I envision archaic journeys
for bartered captivity—
restless swells beat'n
ships against their breasts;
demanding dead ancestors
for safe passage
across the Atlantic
Water, everywhere—
churn'n dark as...
Blood is Life
the good book says;
but, water comprises the majority
of our heart and lungs—
enables white bones
to hold up this black body—
its silt reshaping
brief lessons in history
I envision archaic journeys
for bartered captivity—
restless swells beat'n
ships against their breasts;
demanding dead ancestors
for safe passage
across the Atlantic
Water, everywhere—
churn'n dark as...
#racism
#HumanRights
#inequality #LangstonHughes
#inequality #LangstonHughes
1360 reads
42 Comments
Heaven_sent_Kathy
Poem Published
3rd Jan 2020 9:14am
3rd Jan 2020 9:14am
Red Rose Blues
( after Langston Hughes )
The rain is falling down upon the grave,
I’m by myself without a friend in sight.
A woman of the streets committed sin,
With no man of her own chose suicide.
And yet I’m God I’m helpless what to do,
The rain is falling down upon the grave.
Beneath the stone she’s buried in the cold,
While I on high between can only watch.
The flowers that I grow within the yard,
Only to kill herself when Winter came.
The rain is falling down upon the grave,
As couples passing by will never...
The rain is falling down upon the grave,
I’m by myself without a friend in sight.
A woman of the streets committed sin,
With no man of her own chose suicide.
And yet I’m God I’m helpless what to do,
The rain is falling down upon the grave.
Beneath the stone she’s buried in the cold,
While I on high between can only watch.
The flowers that I grow within the yard,
Only to kill herself when Winter came.
The rain is falling down upon the grave,
As couples passing by will never...
#suicide
#rain
#God
#graveyard
#LangstonHughes
807 reads
12 Comments
Jade-Pandora
jade tiger
jade tiger
Poem Published
2nd Jan 2020 00:26am
2nd Jan 2020 00:26am
Fallen Angels
( after Langston Hughes )
I’m waken’d by a po’em in my head,
Recitin’ in a rhyme of my own kin.
A rhythm that I’m dancin’ in my bed,
A black man in a coffee-flavored skin.
To see me on a slave ship below deck,
I’m waken’d by a po’em in my head.
An’ here we are a-pitchin’ till we retch,
I pray I’m only dreamin’ an’ not dead.
The ship is swallowed in a sky of red,
As if ol’ Satan’s army is a swarm.
I’m waken’d by a po’em in my head,
The cries of fallen angels in the storm.
To all the slaves each...
I’m waken’d by a po’em in my head,
Recitin’ in a rhyme of my own kin.
A rhythm that I’m dancin’ in my bed,
A black man in a coffee-flavored skin.
To see me on a slave ship below deck,
I’m waken’d by a po’em in my head.
An’ here we are a-pitchin’ till we retch,
I pray I’m only dreamin’ an’ not dead.
The ship is swallowed in a sky of red,
As if ol’ Satan’s army is a swarm.
I’m waken’d by a po’em in my head,
The cries of fallen angels in the storm.
To all the slaves each...
#humankind
#redemption
#HumanRights
#inequality
#LangstonHughes
677 reads
17 Comments
DU Poetry : Poems Inspired by Langston Hughes
#LangstonHughes is curated by Ahavati (Tams).
