As I Grew Older Poem by Langston Hughes

As I Grew Older

Rating: 3.9


It was a long time ago.
I have almost forgotten my dream.
But it was there then,
In front of me,
Bright like a sun—
My dream.
And then the wall rose,
Rose slowly,
Slowly,
Between me and my dream.
Rose until it touched the sky—
The wall.
Shadow.
I am black.
I lie down in the shadow.
No longer the light of my dream before me,
Above me.
Only the thick wall.
Only the shadow.
My hands!
My dark hands!
Break through the wall!
Find my dream!
Help me to shatter this darkness,
To smash this night,
To break this shadow
Into a thousand lights of sun,
Into a thousand whirling dreams
Of sun!

As I Grew Older
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Saron Abebe 03 January 2013

i was really feeling these words.. the potential u have when ur young, so many options, so many dreams, as u grow up the darkness of the world creeps in and that endless possiblity u imagined for ur life becomes so limited and claustrophobic, like feeling a heavey wall is keeping you away from what ur heart and sould r yearning for you to become.. the wall is like those boundries set by society, by resposiblities, and culture that limit u from being who u truly r inside

135 39 Reply
Nadia Robb 21 January 2015

So passionately written. Hughes knows how to paint a picture with his words! There seemed to be a moment to which he rescinded into the shadow of himself if just to think about what had happened to his dream. His dream no longer shining brightly before him, there instead is the realization of the barriers more prominent than his dreams. With a final surge of inspiration he vows to break down the wall almost single-handedly to reveal the light of possibilities to all who dream even those who face adversity.

114 35 Reply
Seon King 29 April 2013

very nice poem i remember all the lines: It was a long time ago. I have almost forgotten my dream. But it was there then, In front of me, Bright like a sun- My dream. And then the wall rose, Rose slowly, Slowly, Between me and my dream. Rose until it touched the sky- The wall. Shadow. I am black. I lie down in the shadow. No longer the light of my dream before me, Above me. Only the thick wall. Only the shadow. My hands! My dark hands! Break through the wall! Find my dream! Help me to shatter this darkness, To smash this night, To break this shadow Into a thousand lights of sun, Into a thousand whirling dreams Of sun! see: p

65 76 Reply
ez 08 June 2022

no one asked bozo

7 13
Tony Kavuoti 20 October 2012

Great depths, so real.

96 43 Reply
Donna Read 18 June 2024

I love this, I have never heard it before

0 0 Reply
John Tatum 18 October 2023

This poem has rhythm and cadence and carefully chosen words and images. It was written by a gifted poet who expressed the impotance of keeping your dreams and your hope for a better life alive.

2 0 Reply
Rhonda Cotsell 06 January 2023

My first thought was that it started well but ended in cliche. My second thought was that I am white and there are things that destroy dreams that I do not experience.

1 4 Reply
leaonard richerd 07 September 2022

I didn't connect to the poem at all, in my opinion it is something that goes without saying, and it shows about getting Miserable in some form. I didn't like it at all.

0 7 Reply
leaonard richerd 07 September 2022

I didn't connect to the poem at all, in my opinion it is something that goes without saying, and it shows about getting Miserable in some form. I didn't like it at all.

0 6 Reply
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