Of all the poetry we have read, I am enjoying the works of Langston Hughes by far. His poetry is clearly lighter, easier to read, and just plain more up beat. Some of the things we have been reading are so heavy and depressing. I understand that it was a time of turmoil, struggles, and hardships for African American’s during the Harlem Renaissance, but these poems definitely lighten the mood a bit.
The other pieces of poetry we have read from McKay, Toomer, and Cullen use coded messages that require deep intellectual thought and without a doubt a dictionary! But, Hughes seems to be still sending a meaningful message, just without all of the smoke and mirrors.The poem that I particularly liked was “Laughers”. First I liked it simply for the name and then after reading it I liked how Hughes put the message out there that “my people” are just every day people. “My people” are essential in making the world go round. “My people” can laugh, dream, and sing like the rest of the world. The line “Loud laughers in the hands of Fate – My people” made me smile. I love people that can laugh at the good and the bad, and that seems to be what Hughes is saying. People can laugh and will laugh no matter their fate. Hughes gives a list of jobs that any person can hold regardless of their color, I feel like he is saying life is here for the taking, grab it, and laugh with it.
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7 comments:
It's a true love letter to all the artists that he admires and surrounds himself with. Definitely a happy poem.
Angie, I agree Hughes is a huge relief in reading. I like how you said it "without the smoke and mirrors." His poem "Loud Laughers" is really beautiful and happy. I agree he is saying that life is here for the taking, now run with it. I also think he is trying to portray that his race has been through so much, that it is time for them to come together and laugh and relax. If they can overcome so much race struggle they can withstand anything!
I too enjoy Hughes much more then I have enjoyed any other poet. I agree with you and think your right that even though this was a hard time period people do need to laugh. Laughter gets us through some really rough times. I know laughter is the only thing that got me through my grandmother passing away. When times are bad you need to laugh at the memories and things that happen. I really enjoyed out this poem was just a list of a bunch of jobs that anyone could have also. It's the jobs that we don't really think about as being important, but in all reality they are.
It's true, Hughes' poetry is a million times more simple and lighter to read than any of the other work that we have read so far. "Laughers" was a wonderful poem to read. I also agree with how you have interpreted the poem.
I really like Hughes poems as well. They are much easier to read than Cullen or any other reading we have had so far and by far much more upbeat. I think you right on with your interpretation of the poem Laughers.
I agree with you about the poem "Laughers" it is a positve post that all poeple can laugh no matter what they are doing. this image of laughter is definitly shown throughout the poets that we have read. The image of laughter is looked at a way of relief for his his people but alos look at all people no matter what the color is. This is a positive message about unity of all colors.
I liked this poem alot also. I am the type of person that keeps a smile on my face even when times are hard. It is nice to see a poem that talks about unity and happyness in a time of such depression.
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