"Harlem"

Langston Hughes’ poem “Harlem” is a great example of how well imagery can convey a message in a poem. The poem starts by asking the question “What happens to a dream deferred?” The response to the question is a medley possible outcome to the broken dream. Hughes uses words and phrases such as “dry up,” “rotten meat,” and “sags” to describe what happens to someone that gives up their dreams or must put the dream aside for more important things. What Hughes is saying about what happens when people give up on their dreams is that much hope that is associated with the dream is replaced with bitterness and resentment. In addition, the void left by the dream may be filled with other emotions such as defeat and disregard. The latter emotion is especially evident when he writes “Or crust and sugar over – like a syrupy sweet?” Hughes is telling the reader that once dreams are given up or deferred, the void that is left by the broken dream will only be filled with negative feelings.

An even greater message that Hughes may be telling in his poem is about the dreams that many transplanted African-Americans have about their new lives in Harlem. They come to New York from small Southern towns in search of a new life and better opportunities for their families. The Black people come from all over with dreams of being successful in the city. However, many of their dreams are “deferred” because they must work in menial jobs and live in the slums. Their dreams fade away because Harlem was not what they expected it to be.

Thus, Langston Hughes does a very nice job of conveying his message through the use of imagery in his poem, “Harlem.”