Thursday, October 7, 2021

"As I Grew Older" by Langston Hughes

 

As I Grew Older


It was a long time ago.

I have almost forgotten my dream.

But it was there then,

In front of me,

Bright like a sun

My dream.

And then the wall rose,

Rose slowly,

Slowly,

Between me and my dream.

Rose until it touched the sky

The wall.

Shadow.

I am black.

I lie down in the shadow.

No longer the light of my dream before me,

Above me.

Only the thick wall.

Only the shadow.

My hands!

My dark hands!

Break through the wall!

Find my dream!

Help me to shatter this darkness,

To smash this night,

To break this shadow

Into a thousand lights of sun,

Into a thousand whirling dreams

Of sun!


Enjoy the poem with beautiful music.


poem video👇

https://youtu.be/Zw1inijA7K4





Who wrote the poem "As I Grew Older"?


Langston Hughes (February 1, 1901 May 22, 1967)

 

Langston Hughes was an African-American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist who pioneered the literary art form called “jazz poetry.” He is also known as a leader of the Harlem Renaissance. Self-admittedly influenced by Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Carl Sandburg, and Walt Whitman, Hughes is known for insightful portrayals of black life and culture of his time.



"As I Grew Older" explanation


In the poem, the speaker depicts hardships and obstacles he had to face as an African American. However he refuses to stop there and goes on to urge his “dark hands” to break through the wall and find his dream again. The speaker represents and empowers all African Americans whose dreams had to be relinquished because of the racial discrimination and persecution in the early 20th century America.


 

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