Dreams

Poems influence our lives in many ways. Two of my favorite poems that have made a strong impression on me were written by Langston Hughes, Dreams and A Dream Deferred.

A Dream Deferred

By Langston Hughes

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 sages

Like a heavy load

Or does it explode?

In the first four questions, Mr. Hughes is asking what happens to our dreams if they are not fulfilled. How does a deferred dream make us feel? The words he uses helps us to understand the emotions we sometime experience when our dreams are deferred: like things are drying up, running, stinking, crusting over. In the last question, he asks does our dream shatter- explode. He is asking us does our dream shatter into many little pieces and cannot be put back together.

The second poem by Langston Hughes that I like is “Dreams”. 

Dreams

By Langston Hughes

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” is a great follow-up to “A Dream Deferred”. In this poem, Mr. Hughes is saying although your dreams seem beyond your reach hold onto to them.  Never give up on your dreams, for if you let go of your dreams they will disappear fast- exploded. Also, if your dream seems to vanish have another in its place. Life is nothing without dreams. It will become a “barren field, Frozen with snow.” So, to everyone out there, “Hold fast to dreams.” Always keep dreaming for when a dream is crushed you will have another to fall on.