Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS, by JAMES LANGSTON HUGHES


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: I've known rivers
Last Line: My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hughes, Langston
Subject(s): African Americans - History; Holidays; New Year; Racism; Rivers; Time; Black Heritage; Racial Prejudice; Bigotry


I've known rivers:
I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the
flow of human blood in human veins.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.
I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.
I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln
went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy
bosom turn all golden in the sunset.

I've known rivers:
Ancient, dusky rivers.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.






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