Artifact 6: Langston Hughes' "The Negro Speaks of Rivers"

Classmates,

I am responding to Langston Hughes’ “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”. The central theme of rivers in the poem is a powerful image of interest that moves in both time and place, much like the speaker’s life. The river itself is free flowing and unhindered by the rocks and other obstacles it comes across. The same image is applied to how the speaker feels in the poem – which is quite a statement, given the years of oppression and slavery that an entire race of people were subjected to.

The poem starts out with the speaker proclaiming to know rivers of old times. The speaker then goes on to describe the Euphrates at a younger time – “when dawns were young” (5). Next the speaker mentions the Congo where he had built his hut and the sounds of the river lulled him to sleep. The Nile is mentioned where the speaker “raised the pyramids” (7) and finally, the speaker mentions the Mississippi that “turn[s] all golden in the sunset”. We notice a pattern depicted by the time of day which could be a metaphor for the life of man. Dawn and sunset are used to depict the passage of time and the rivers help add to the idea of freedom in living. The time between dawn and sunset are devoted to work and building – much like our own.

The line – “My soul has grown deep like the rivers” (4, 13) is mentioned twice. The first time it has a fresh sound to it – before dawn but the last line is a more somber and thoughtful statement.

All in all, this poem has a very river-like flow to it – free, overcoming and calm. It has a simple yet though-provoking slant to it that is very striking.

Sincerely,

Arjun Thakur

ENGL214