"The ultimate book for both the dabbler and serious scholar—. [Hughes] is sumptuous and sharp, playful and sparse, grounded in an earthy music—. This book is a glorious revelation."—Boston Globe
Spanning five decades and comprising 868 poems (nearly 300 of which have never before appeared in book form), this magnificent volume is the definitive sampling of a writer who has been called the poet laureate of African America—and perhaps our greatest popular poet since Walt Whitman. Here, for the first time, are all the poems that Langston Hughes published during his lifetime, arranged in the general order in which he wrote them and annotated by Arnold Rampersad and David Roessel.
Alongside such famous works as "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" and Montage of a Dream Deferred, The Collected Poems includes the author's lesser-known verse for children; topical poems distributed through the Associated Negro Press; and poems such as "Goodbye Christ" that were once suppressed. Lyrical and pungent, passionate and polemical, the result is a treasure of a book, the essential collection of a poet whose words have entered our common language.
Here for the first time is a complete collection of the poetry of Langston Hughes--860 poems that sound the heartbeat of black life in America during 40 turbulent years. This rich volume, with its illuminating notes and chronology of Hughes's life, and a section of poems for children, will be a revelation to both those familiar with his work and those just discovering it.
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 heartbeat,
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.
| Introduction | 3 | |
| A Chronology of the Life of Langston Hughes | 8 | |
| The Poems of Langston Hughes | ||
| Poems 1921-1930 | 21 | |
| Poems 1931-1940 | 133 | |
| Poems 1941-1950 | 223 | |
| Poems 1951-1960 | 377 | |
| Poems 1961-1967 | 471 | |
| Appendix 1 | Poems Circulated by the Associated Negro Press | 563 |
| Appendix 2 | Poetry for Children | 595 |
| Appendix 3 | Additional Poems | 611 |
| Notes to the Poems | 619 | |
| Index of First Lines | 697 | |
| Index of Titles | 707 |
Anonymous
Posted January 10, 2006
Some people can pick up and write poetry.But without meaning the words which they write are nothing.But heart and soul woven together create the poems which langston Hughes writes.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 26, 2002
I am in constant awe of the words penned by Mr. Hughes. His works remain the catalyst for my writing career. He inspies me to write, and to be true in my words. I can never fill his shoes, but I gladly and humbly follow in his footsteps.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 24, 2013
I've been a fan of Langston Hughes for a while now. The poems in this book are ones that I have read personally for years. Reading Hughes' poems it brings you back to the heart and soul of the time where he lived. Langston predominately wrote about the hardships or what was happening during the Harlem Renaissance. His poems are a favorite of many because it can relate to pretty much anyone. His poem Harlem could be referred to a person’s dream. He compares a dream to a raisin because a raisin is dried and shriveled up like how a dream could be if left if someone does not act upon it.
Though his subjects are still relatable now, they were made to depict the low-life that Langston knew. Langston knew that being a black was tough. So he wrote about it in a way that not just blacks could understand. His poems portrayed struggle, joy, laughter, and music. Langston had no boundaries of what he wrote about. Writing about dreams or stereotypes were not a problem for Langston. Since he was one of the few prominent black writers he was an inspiration for many other writers and even artists.
ltown05
Posted February 21, 2010
Langston Hughes has been a long time favorite of mine. This book evokes memories of days gone by and the innocence that I have lost since then.
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Posted March 7, 2008
Leads to those that can only acknowledge of which was. I true lover of Langston Hughes'work, I can only say you can only become enriched from reading this book and no other one will stand up to the style of composition that comes through. I could only wish other poets of this age could begin to unfold in such beauty as he has. In his time of limitations he seemed to make presentation limitless.
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Posted December 14, 2001
Words cannot begin to express how incredibly talented this man is. This collection of his poems is skillfully put together. There is a poem for every human emotion possible. It is a beautiful guide throught the history of black American life.
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Posted September 22, 2000
I just have one thing to say: Brilliant!!!
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Posted May 3, 2000
Langston Hughes has been my favorite poet since i was younger!I am only 13 but i love poety espically by Langston Hughes His Poem Dreams really inspired me the most..Hold fat unto you Dreams...
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Posted May 2, 2000
Langston is one of my favorite poets ever. His words or just the greatest. He really opens himself you and you can really feel what he is writing and what was going on. He was the first poet I really got into and like b/c before I never really liked poety. He just inspiered me in some weird way. I think he is the best.
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Posted April 2, 2010
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Posted May 30, 2011
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Posted October 28, 2009
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Posted September 25, 2009
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Overview
"The ultimate book for both the dabbler and serious scholar—. [Hughes] is sumptuous and sharp, playful and sparse, grounded in an earthy music—. This book is a glorious revelation."—Boston Globe
Spanning five decades and comprising 868 poems (nearly 300 of which have never before appeared in book form), this magnificent volume is the definitive sampling of a writer who has been called the poet laureate of African America—and perhaps our greatest popular poet since Walt Whitman. Here, for the first ...