PoemAs I Grew Older
Author / PoetLangston Hughes

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!

Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes
1 Feb 1902 - 22 May 1967
Movement: Harlem Renaissance
Awards: Anisfield-Wolf Book Award

more poems by Langston Hughes

Poem NameTopic
Trumpet Player
Theme For English B
The Negro Mother
The Negro Speaks Of Rivers
The Dream Keeper
The Ballad Of The Landlord
Motto
Mother To Son
Me And The Mule
Madam and The Rent Man

all poems by Langston Hughes

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