Don't You Turn Back

by Langston Hughes

Compelling, intriguing and well narrated facts

Genres: Poetry

Library Binding

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Through poetry, prose, and drama, American writer James Langston Hughes made important contributions to the Harlem renaissance; his best-known works include Weary Blues (1926) and The Ways of White Folks (1934).

People best know this social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist James Mercer Langston Hughes, one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form jazz poetry, for his famous written work about the period, when "Harlem was in vogue."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langsto...

Reviews

[M.W.P.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The night is beautiful,
So the faces of my people.

The stars are beautiful,
So the eyes of my people.

Beautiful, also, is the sun.
Beautiful, also, are the souls of my people.

- My People, pg. 3

* * *

She stands
In the quiet darkness,
This troubled woman
Bowed by
Weariness and pain
Like an
Autumn flower
In the frozen rain,
Like a
Wind-blown autumn flower
That never lifts its head
Again.

- Troubled Woman, pg. 10

* * *

I love my friend.
He went away from me.
There's nothing more to say.
The poem ends,
Soft as it began -
I loved my friend.

- Poem, pg. 24

* * *

Bring me all of your dreams,
You dreamers,
Bring me all of your
Heart melodies
That I may wrap them
In a blue cloud-cloth
Away from the too-rough fingers
Of the world

- The Dream Keeper, pg. 39

* * *

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

- Dreams, pg. 44

* * *

The calm,
Cool face of the river
Asked me for a kiss.

- Suicide's Note, pg. 57

* * *

Wear it
Like a banner
For the proud -
Not like a shroud.

Wear it
Like a song
Soaring high -
Not moan or cry.

- Colour, pg. 73

* * *

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.

Tomorrow,
I'll be 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.

- I, Too, pg. 74

[Erendira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woodcut illustrations are gorgeous and complement the poems well. My favorites in this collection: Aunt Sue's Stories; Troubled Woman; Mother to Son; The Negro; I, Too.