Poetry Blog #8

I, Too, Sing America

I really enjoyed this poem by Langston Hughes. I found it really interesting that he responded to I Hear America Singing by Walt Whitman. It was a very brave and risky thing for him to do, but he did it anyway. I like how he uses the title of Whitmans' poem in his own title and how he really makes you think after reading both of the poems.

Hughes poem is about the American Dream. Whitman made it seem like the dream is only achievable by the white man because he never said anything about the blacks in America. Hughes wanted the black man to be included in this rejoicing of America. He starts his poem with," I, too, sing America" and ends it with the same phrase giving a great introduction to what the poem is going to be about and a strong conclusion finalizing and summing up his strong statement.

In stanza three he says," Tomorrow, I'll be at the table When company comes." He is not literally says that tomorrow he will be at the table, but is using it figuratively as in someday in the future he will be able to eat at the table with the whites because he will someday not be segregate against.

I really enjoy Langston Hughes. Every piece of his that I have read has really touched me. His use of strong words, repeating important phrases really has a powerful impact on me.