I'm not sure about everyone else, but I kind of loved the Langston Hughes readings for this week. Never having read any of his poems, I was slightly blown away by all of his imagery, his historical references, and just the overall tone of the poems. I have to say my favorite was "The Negro Speaks of Rivers." Just read the lines...
I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.
I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.
I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln
went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its
muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset
... and just try to tell me it doesn't conjure up some glorious, historical image in your head. It should.
This work wonderfully ties in modernism and the New Negro Movement. While using a free verse, yet flowing style, he looks back to the past. At the same time, he doesn't make race an issue. Sure, "Negro" is in the title but not mentioning race at all in the poem I think is very significant. He relates to the Euphrates and the Nile, hugely important rivers for the Classical Period of Sumerian and Egyptian culture. His soul is as ancient as these rivers; Hughes seems to be implying that since race was not an issue in human achievements and greatness during the Classical period, it should not be an issue today. His soul was born with these rivers, just like every one elses. And his final river, the Mississippi, I think implies that race should not inhibit overall human greatness in America.
This is just my interpretation, but like all poetry, it could have some vastly different meaning that my blonde-brain somehow missed. If this is all choppy, I apologize. Good literature just gets me all excited.
who knew that rivers would have such an amazing effect on a person's life. back in the day I know rivers were the main source for food, especially during the Egyptian and Mesopotamian ages, but this description is more fun, more enjoyment than necessity and survival.
ReplyDeleteI also saw the symbolism of the flowing rivers, how all water connects and therefore connects everybody. The blood that flows through everybody's veins is a unifying characteristic of people; it is as if it is saying that God is linking all of mankind and that underneath the aesthetic differences, we are all people who desire respect, justice, equality, and rights.
ReplyDeleteThe selection that I most appreciated was "Theme for English B". In the poem, you can see that Langston Hughes is self-aware of his African-American heritage but he doesn't allow it to consume his identity. He is a man wandering through life trying to build an identity, just like any other 22-year-old in America.
Lila, you put what I flailingly said into understandable words, thank you.
ReplyDelete"The Negro Speaks of Rivers" was also my favorite selection.
ReplyDeleteThe first thought that came to my mind was from middle school science class "Rivers are the veins of the Earth". Just like Lila said, every body of water is somehow connected and Hughes seems to think we are all just as connected. Basically, water is necessary for life. If the water from the Nile, the Congo, the Mississippi, all of the world's rivers didn't flow then neither would the blood in our veins. I think it is also important to mention that life is always more abundant along the riverbeds and the fact that Hughes uses rivers to describe different parts of life is significant.
The blood that flows through everybody's veins is a unifying characteristic of people; it is as if it is saying that God is linking all of mankind and that underneath the aesthetic differences, we are all people who desire respect, justice, equality, and rights.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm . . . Sounds romantic, eh? A bit like Emerson, no? More romantic than modern? Hmmmm . . .
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ReplyDeletePhillip, I noticed that too and that's where I got a little stuck. I know Sumerians had slaves, but it was based soley on debt and prisoners of war, not so much race. No matter what it means, it's still a beautiful poem.
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