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User Rating: |
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8.9
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(85
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The instructor said,
Go home and write
a page tonight.
And let that page come out of you--
Then, it will be true.
I wonder if it's that simple?
I am twenty-two, colored, born in Winston-Salem.
I went to school there, then Durham, then here
to this college on the hill above Harlem.
I am the only colored student in my class.
The steps from the hill lead down into Harlem,
through a park, then I cross St. Nicholas,
Eighth Avenue, Seventh, and I come to the Y,
the Harlem Branch Y, where I take the elevator
up to my room, sit down, and write this page:
It's not easy to know what is true for you or me
at twenty-two, my age. But I guess I'm what
I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear you:
hear you, hear me--we two--you, me, talk on this page.
(I hear New York, too.) Me--who?
Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love.
I like to work, read, learn, and understand life.
I like a pipe for a Christmas present,
or records--Bessie, bop, or Bach.
I guess being colored doesn't make me not like
the same things other folks like who are other races.
So will my page be colored that I write?
Being me, it will not be white.
But it will be
a part of you, instructor.
You are white--
yet a part of me, as I am a part of you.
That's American.
Sometimes perhaps you don't want to be a part of me.
Nor do I often want to be a part of you.
But we are, that's true!
As I learn from you,
I guess you learn from me--
although you're older--and white--
and somewhat more free.
This is my page for English B.
Langston Hughes
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Read poems about / on: christmas, school, sometimes, work, sleep, home
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Comments about this poem (Theme for English B
by
Langston Hughes
) |
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Click here to write your
comments about this poem (Theme for English B by
Langston Hughes
)
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Binisha Giri
(4/6/2009 6:28:00 AM) |
for me this poem is a total mistry as
i cant understand any thing except
he is coloured and has to rite a piece of writing
but i m sorry as i m only in 7th grade
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Michele <3
(5/18/2008 5:55:00 PM) |
i luv this poem. we read it in english...lol: -) this poem is deep. <3
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Michele <3
(5/18/2008 5:54:00 PM) |
i luv this poem. we read it in english...lol: -) this poem is deep. <3
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Andrea Gutierrez
(10/8/2005 12:40:00 PM) |
I know how it is to live a different culture and interact with others and have noticed that in my writing it will be a part of me. Me as a writer, as a young educated woman, I find this poem true. Langston Hughes just knew how to put it in words and that is why this is one of my favorite poems.
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Langston Hughes
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