To close out Black History Month, I decided to reflect on a throwback “ramble”.
I remember learning about poetry in the 6th grade and I was so drawn to it. We studied poetry + poets for a few weeks; memorized poems to present and practiced writing all different styles. It was like the best language ever spoken. I loved the word play, the way poetry made you look at things + how so much was said in so little words. I can still remember the poem I recited for my presentation, “Harlem: What happens to a Dream Deferred” by Langston Hughes.
Outside of remembering poems by great writers, we also had to choose one of those poets to create our own piece about. Langston Hughes was my pick (I chose him for everything if I could).
I don’t remember how the process went for me then nor how I came up with the poem. I do remember that it was special enough for my mom to keep a copy of it for 20 years. So, I asked her for it + this is how it went:
My Dream About Langston Hughes
There was a poet named Langston Hughes. I was sad when I heard the news, There would be no more poems because he was dead. So I cried and went to bed. While I slept I had a dream that gave me clues, About the life of Langston Hughes. Twelve volumes of poetry he wrote in his life, Full of wit and wisdom about the black man's strife. He did not write only poetry, He also wrote fiction, drama, and history. He wrote his feelings without fright or shame. That's why I will always remember his name.
A little later in the school year, my teacher let me know she had submitted my poem to a company that creates an annual publication of the best young poets + I had been chosen. I never received one of the books, but it is still somewhere in my elementary school library. That idea that another young poet from that school may read my poem and be inspired to write one day is satisfying to me.
Original Copy from Creative Communication, Inc.
Do you know a young poet or a child that has the potential to be? Encourage their creativity + have the teachers do the same by submitting their work to https://www.youngpoets.org/. There is no loss in practicing a little word play.
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