Vagabonds. (Translation) . Poem by Michael Walker

'Hughes's poetry has a pulse, a beauty and familiar kindness...'-Cleveland Plain Dealer'. Quoted on the book's dust jacket. This poem is an example of Hughes's 'familiar kindness': he does not reject or scorn the homeless vagabonds; he rather identifies with them, givingthem a chance to state their case. 'Nowhere to eat, nowhere to sleep'. Most telling of all, they are past shedding tears for themselves, too dulled by failure and rejection. I found the last three lies very moving.
This poem is similar in tone and subject matter to 'Grant Park'.
This is the area of compassion which I find in Langston Hughes more than any other American poet. Hughes's stature in American poetry is still being established and recognized.