Langston Hughes is one of the great poets of the United States of America. Hughes is one of the few African-American poets included in anthologies used by major colleges and universities. He is famous for the bluesy rhyme scheme in many of his poems. Though the surface of these texts are innocent, some of the subtexts can be prophetic. Hughes’ “Dreams” is a prophetic warning to the power structure of the U. S. of what would happen if all were not allowed to share in the “American Dream.”
Hughes identifies the U. S. by referencing a bird. “For if dreams die / Life is a broken-winged bird.” The symbol of the United States is the eagle. He warns that if those in power continue to oppress its citizenry, it would remain broken and be unable to soar to the grand heights of the vision in the constitution.
In the second stanza Hughes tell the power structure of the punishment that would come if they retard the dreams of the masses like an old testament Prophet. “For when dream go / Life is a barren field. Hughes is telling rulers that an U. S. with restrictions on the “American Dream” will not produce anything. He alludes to the Bible’s Moses warnings to the Pharaohs.
Langston Hughes speaks with a smooth sound on the surface along with a heavy prophetic message just beneath. Hughes advises the great “America” to allow all of its people to share in the dream of life or else be stunted as far as protection goes. Or else become barren causing all to suffer.
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