I’m a fan of Langston Hughes and had my mind set on lines from one of his
poems for my recent book of poetry, but that couldn’t happen. As I participate
in this writing prompt today, let me start by showing you the poem as it goes
well with the *example offered by Jennifer Russo, the PoW at
W3 Prompt #81: Wea’ve Written Weekly. Posted on
Harlem
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?
Copyright © 2002 by Langston Hughes.
HARLEM, BY LANGSTON HUGHES
What happens to a dream deferred?
Langston Hughes, “Harlem” from The Collected Works of Langston Hughes.
Copyright © 2002 by Langston Hughes.
Reprinted on Poetry Foundation by permission of Harold Ober Associates, Inc.
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~ Let’s do this thing!
I. The prompt poem:
‘Until Spring’, a tanka series by Jennifer Russo
II. Jennifer’s prompt guidelines
As days grow shorter in the northern hemisphere, I find myself going to bed a
bit earlier and rising a bit later. More time for dreaming! This week’s prompt
is to write a “lento” on the topic of dreams. This could be about dreams
themselves, the act of dreaming, the dreamer, or a dreamlike quality.
Poems to inspire you
- ‘My Little Dreams’ by Georgia Douglas Johnson (1880 – 1966)
- ‘Dreams’ by *Langston Hughes (1901 – 1967)
Lento?
- Two quatrains (four-line stanzas) with a fixed rhyme scheme of abcb, defe,
as the 2nd and 4th lines of each stanza must rhyme; - All the FIRST words of each verse should rhyme; click HERE for an example.
Thanks, Jennifer, here’s my Lento
How Will Life Inform Their Dreams?
What am I to say to my grandheirs
about the wars in twenty twenty-three
strut and assuage with watered-down flares
cry out I cannot comprehend the decree?
How will that inform on their dream scope
before we pray and send them to sleep hush toned
how can we teach them love, kindness, and hope
or will we stink like rotten meat in the sun?
© selma
(The last line is a take from Langston Hughes' "Harlem")
What kind of dreams will my grandbabies fold within their hearts?
Thanks for the wonderful prompt, Jennifer Russo.
I found this great prompt a great way to release
something deep I’m feeling, and know we all are, too.
No grandbabies for me yet, but I am wondering about that future conversation.
Happy writing everyone and I hope you enjoyed my very first Lento.
(In case you’re new to my website and are wondering about
my recent book of poetry, get details/look inside at this link.
I’d be delighted to hear what you think about it. Thanks, xoxo.)
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a brilliant classic
Yes. Langston brilliance is epic. Classic but modern too. Thanks, Beth.
A life that considers legacy, begins to be shaped by values we want future generations to aspire to. Knowing that we get to a stage in life, where we live seeking absolution, can be sobering.
I love what you did with the prompt Selma. Thank you for sharing the piece from Hughes. 💙🙏
It’s my utmost pleasure, really.
I already declared world peace why aren’t they listening?
It’s embarrassing 💔
Thanks for your lovely words, my friend. I bless you.
🤗💜🙏
wonderful, Selma.
lovely where you went with this “dreams”. 🙏🤍
Glad you liked it, Destiny. Thanks for reading. XO
my pleasure 🙏🌹
Wonderful written you. Nice & expression of words use in .
Thanks so much, Raj xo
Most welcome my friend, Selma 😊
Hi Selma, a thought provoking poem.
Thanks, Robbie. Be well.
Thank you, Selma, for your heartfelt poem about what we will tell the children. <3 <3 <3 How do you explain wars of aggression, war crimes, hate crimes, climate change, increasing economic inequalities, censorship of education, book banning…? Your choice of the Langston Hughes is sadly still relevant today.
How will we explain? 💭
A beautiful take Selma.
Thanks, Sadje. Xoxo
You’re always welcome
Brilliant 💖
I appreciate you saying. Thanks. It was hard to get the first words to rhyme… 🤔 Bless you
We keep making the same mistakes over and over…we should think about how it impacts those who come after us. (K)
It will impact them too.
Xo, thanks K
It’s a great poem, Selma – shame we couldn’t use it!
We couldn’t.
Thanks for reading, dear Ingrid. Be well. Xo
We must continue to teach “love, kindness and hope”…through example and keep the discussions alive. Nice write.
I love the question, “what kind of dreams will my grandbabies fold within their hearts?