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W3: With Langston Hughes’ Words on My Mind

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

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

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 rhymeclick HERE for an example.

Thanks, Jennifer, here’s my Lento

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.

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(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.)

Selma Martin
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This Post Has 26 Comments

  1. beth

    a brilliant classic

    1. Selma Martin

      Yes. Langston brilliance is epic. Classic but modern too. Thanks, Beth.

  2. byngnigel

    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. 💙🙏

    1. Selma Martin

      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.

  3. Destiny

    wonderful, Selma.
    lovely where you went with this “dreams”. 🙏🤍

    1. Selma Martin

      Glad you liked it, Destiny. Thanks for reading. XO

  4. rajkkhoja

    Wonderful written you. Nice & expression of words use in .

      1. Anonymous

        Most welcome my friend, Selma 😊

  5. Roberta Eaton Cheadle

    Hi Selma, a thought provoking poem.

  6. Cheryl, Gulf Coast Poet

    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.

  7. Sadje

    A beautiful take Selma.

      1. Sadje

        You’re always welcome

    1. Selma Martin

      I appreciate you saying. Thanks. It was hard to get the first words to rhyme… 🤔 Bless you

  8. memadtwo

    We keep making the same mistakes over and over…we should think about how it impacts those who come after us. (K)

  9. Ingrid

    It’s a great poem, Selma – shame we couldn’t use it!

    1. Selma Martin

      We couldn’t.

      Thanks for reading, dear Ingrid. Be well. Xo

  10. sgeoil

    We must continue to teach “love, kindness and hope”…through example and keep the discussions alive. Nice write.

  11. Belladonna

    I love the question, “what kind of dreams will my grandbabies fold within their hearts?

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