Langston Hughes – Poet Laureate

Dreams not deferred

A poet, essayist, novelist, playwright, journalist, & lyricist born in Joplin, Missouri. Sometimes called 'The Poet Laureate of Harlem', he is one of America's greatest writers.

A Dream Deferred

By Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

Greatest quote:

An artist must be free to choose what he does, certainly, but he must also never be afraid to do what he might choose.