Langston Hughes

The Langston Hughes pieces assigned for the reading were very interesting. I really enjoyed them, actually, for a number of reasons ranging from the varying styles employed to the content and messages.
The way that he treats the content- in "Good Morning, Revolution," in "Song of the Revolution," in "Revolution," sometimes, it's like talking to a friend, a familiar comrade; sometimes it's like a call to the troops; sometimes it's like telling someone's story, to evoke an understanding. The variation in the tone and language makes each poem interesting.
Also, there is a difference in pattern (rhyme scheme, rhythm, etc.) that sets each apart from the other. Obviously, we can read the poem and see what it says, analyze what it means, but it's important the way it sounds. When someone is actually saying the words, it brings a life to them, it becomes someone's voice, and what they're saying and how they're saying it will affect how it's understood by the audience.
But there is a certain order within how he writes these pieces. Such as, "Poem for a Poster on Africa," which within the first few lines talks about people dying- and the drums beating. The three lines starting with "beat," you can almost hear the drums beating within the words, beating in sadness and honor of the dead. He repeats words within lines, which draws the lines together, and establishes a rhythm and a meaning: "The books are written by wise men/Who study in universities/And are sometimes kind/And worried in their hearts-/But not too worried-/Not worried enough..." the use of "and" and the use of "worried" connect the lines, connect the phrases, and draw contrasts between the meaning and impact of the words and the lines.
Sometimes there is sadness in the poems, sometimes there is fire, passion behind the words- sometimes there is friendship, such as in "Good Morning, Revolution" and in my mind, I can almost see look he would give to his friend, sitting right beside him, recounting the good times they'd had together, by each other's sides.
"Good Morning, Revolution" is a book that I would actually buy on my own and read. I was surprised at my own reaction, because often when speaking about revolution people adopt a more aggressive or, to try to create the image in my mind, "strong" perspective. However, though I would not say these aren't strong statements, they are with new and different tones, not just one of fighting and anger, but also of hope and truth and justice.