Reading the Langston Hughes poems, once again is not the easiest reading for me. I do, however, like Hughes' poems. I felt Hughes' poems were a little more straight forward than Cullen's poems. When reading them, I just read right through rather than stopping at every sentence or stanza to try to understand what he was saying. It's a lot harder to comment on Hughes' poem because of the fact that what each poem is about is obvious in just about every poem.
I really liked the "Aunt Sue's Stories" Poem. I felt the respect the child had for his Aunt Sue. The second to last stanza states that "the dark-faced child, listening, knows that Aunt Sue's stories are real stories, He knows that Aunt Sue never got her stories out of any book at all, but that they came right out of her own life". I could sense the respect and the attention that child gave to Aunt Sue and I really enjoyed reading it.
I also enjoyed reading "Mother to Son" on page 30. I got the sense of perseverence from the mother and that she was trying to inspire her son to do the same. It was like she was telling him that no matter how hard it gets, he must persevere and he will get through it. My favorite part was where she told him "Dont you fall now- For I'se still goin' honey I'se still climbing and life for me aint been no crystal stair". This actual life of his mother and the perseverence she shows can be a major inspiration for her son to get through anything.
Is the poem "Shadows" like an imagery? Is it an imagery to break away from their troubles? The shadows being their troubles and to find the sun which means to get out?
While reading some of Hughes' poems, I had alot of ideas for some of them. Since most of them that we read were pretty straight forward I feel that the ones I'm questioning must be the same. I feel that maybe I'm reading too much into them. I'm not sure! For example, The Weary Blues, I felt the blues were an imagery for his unhappiness. In "I, Too", I got the sense that tomorrow meant when slavery ended. The last stanza that says "They'll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed--I, too am America" I felt that Hughes was talking about no matter the color, we are all America and they will be ashamed for the hatred they have had on African Americans.
7 comments:
These poems, like all poems aren't to easy for me to read either. But they are a little bit easier then what we have been reading. I read through each poem once quickly to see the tone and then I took it stanza by stanza rather then line by line and this seemed to help me with his.
"Aunt Sue's Stories" was one of my favorite poems also. I complete agree with you that this child has respect for his Aunt. Like we discussed in class today I think it's important for children to hear about the past and history even if it's not always positive. They can learn from it and they can see how America has changed.
"Mother to Son" was another great poem. When I was reading this I was thinking that it would have been a great poem to be published in the Brownies Book for children. It's just such a positive poem about never giving up. I think anyone who reads it can take a lot out of it. Life isn't easy, but we need to be strong.
“Aunt Sue’s Stories” was good. I liked how Aunt Sue clearly held this child in awe. Aunt Sue comes across as a woman who has endured both hardships and happiness in her life that she is willing and eager to share with “the dark-faced child”. These stories are essential to African American Heritage, just as we talked about with the Brownies Book, children are eager to know about the past. They want to fit into society just like adults do. Children need these stories so they can grow and develop a sense of who they are and how their people fit into the crazy world they are trying to make sense of.
It's funny that you mentioned you feel like you're reading too much into Hughes' poems... I feel the same way. Since the poems are so straight forward with simple language, it makes you think that there must be more to it. I also enjoyed the poem "Mother to Son." It reminds me of what any mother would say to her child if the child feels like giving up... Just keep on going. Through struggle there will eventually be triumph.
I also liked "Mother to Son." I thought this poem could relate to anyone not necessarily Arican Americans. I think writing poems like this helps connect the reader to the poem and poet. Just because he is writing about an African American women struggling and surviving, it could happen to anyone.I liked how she said "Dont you fall now- For I'se still goin' honey I'se still climbing and life for me aint been no crystal stair". I think this is a great image to use in this context. Stairs are always a good image to use when talking about life and and success. I like how she passes on her stuggles to her son and shows him through her life that times can be hard, but you get through it and you don't have to give up or think your a failure. Its a great lesson!
I like the messeges Hughes is trying to protray through his poems. I think he is much easier to understand and I like how he is kind of a story teller through his poems.
I agree with you that hughes poems are alot easier to read than any other poet we have read. I liked the poem "aunt sue's stories" because it related to the brownies book the part were the parent talks about what they want thye child to know about african american who are important. This is exampe of where a elder is telling a child about the srtuggles and it shows that thye can make it. Another thing that i thought of was the movie ethnic notions this poem contradicts those things in that movie it is a positive thing for children to hear.
When reading "Aunt Sue's Stories" it reminded of part of a song by Montgomery Gentry. It's called "Something to be Proud Of" and the following are the first few lyrics:
"There's a story that my daddy tells religiously
Like clockwork every time he sees an opening
In a conversation about the way things used to be
Well I'd just roll my eyes and make a bee-line for the door
But I'd always wind up starry-eyed, cross-legged on the floor
Hanging on to every word
Man, the things I heard
It was harder times and longer days
Five miles to school, uphill both ways
We were cane switch raised, and dirt floor poor
'Course that was back before the war..."
In the poem, the child seems to be listening to Aunt Sue so intently, realizing they are true tales from her life. It's sort of the same thing I think of when I hear this song. Sometimes I don't want to listen to my parents or grandparents stories from the past, but after hearing more and more of it, I get hooked, sitting silently, ears taking in every word.
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