Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Dreams by Langston Hughes poetry analysis

Dreams



Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

by Langston Hughes

             I like this poem for its strong vocabulary and imagery through metaphors. Though it's only one stanza, its two groupings of four lines make it run smoothly and it's very rhythmic. The author has communicated a strong message-if you really want something, all you have to do is go out and get it. Not reaching for your dreams is not a good way to live if you're doing something that you've lowered your expectations to, when you know that if you really tried you could make your dreams come true. Dr
eams are our souls most desperate, genuine desires, and if we really try to hold on to them then we will be satisfied with ourselves, and life won't be as the author describes it, "a barren field/ Frozen with snow." 
              This poem paints a strong image in my mind of a hopping bird, that fails to accomplish anything, in the middle of a deserted, frozen field, while the bird's dreams are floating away, up in the clouds. It also paints an image of a bird flying through the air, on a sunny day, when all of it's dreams have come true.
              I would recommend this poem to anybody who has a dream that they want to chase, one that they're too nervous or scared to go for, because though it's not an inspiring poem, or encouraging for that matter, it shows what life will be like if you don't go for it. This poem makes me want to go reach for my dreams before it's too late.

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