POEMS by Langston Hughes

JUKE BOX LOVE SONG I could take the Harlem night and wrap around you, Take the neon lights and make a crown, Take the Lenox Avenue busses, Taxis, subways, And for your love song tone their rumble down. Take Harlem's hearbeat, Make a drumbeat, Put it on a record, let it whirl, And while we listen to it play, Dance with you, till day-- Dance with you, my sweet brown Harlem girl.

I, TOO I, too sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes. But I laugh, And eat well And grow strong. To-morrow I'll sit at the table When company comes Nobody'll dare Say to me, "Eat in the kitchen" Then. Besides, they'll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed,-- I, too, am America.

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?

ENNUI It's such a Bore Being always Poor.