Some reflections with a couple poems by Langston Hughes.
(Image description: Text reads in light blue chalk: Dream Until It’s Your Reality, written on gray cement. A pair of brown loafers and dark pants legs are seen at the bottom of the image.) Credit: Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash
I did an oracle reading recently and received the Ireland card, which indicates a need to take a pilgrimage. I tend to interpret that card rather loosely, as it could be applied to physical, spiritual, or creative travel.
The destination for this trip was one of my college textbooks, specifically two poems by Langston Hughes printed on the same page. I have no doubt that the publishers intentionally printed them based on their print years to show how his work reflected each other from 1932 and 1951.
The first poem was The Dream Keeper. Short, protective, and gentle, it also has a hopeful quality to it. The phrase “blue-cloud cloth” reminded me some of the concept of Brighid’s mantle, as it’s frequently seen as a protective and healing aspect of Her.
With a starkly contrasting tone, the other poem is Harlem (Dream Deferred). I’m not sure if Hughes was referring back to the previously mentioned poem when he wrote it or if it related to the Harlem Renaissance in general. As I’m a White person, there’s no way I can fully understand these works as they were originally written in that era or how a POC would interpret it. However, as with any form of art, I think it’s still worth reflecting upon for deeper meaning.
In The Dream Keeper, there’s encouragement for dreamers to be gentle with their dreams, even taking care to swaddle them from the harshness of the world. Callousness can fray at the song of one’s dreams, hence the need for protection.
With Harlem (Dream Deferred), the delaying of time affects how those dreams are perceived by their dreamers. Some of them might be nostalgically sweet or overwhelmingly painful. In some instances, those dreams might set something off, for better or for worse.
To some degree, I can personally relate to the themes of the poems. I’m a skeptic by nature, so I’ve often found it difficult to have any solid dreams. The first poem is a reminder that it’s important to have dreams, as they’re a part of your heart and that it’s necessary to shield them from people or situations that could harm them.
The second poem is relevant for both personal and collective reasons. I’ve had to learn to develop dreams and still struggle with the idea that they can come true. However, if I wait too long or even look at them with rose-tinted glasses, they can develop the traits Hughes conveys. Those painstakingly developed dreams might be for naught.
With the events of recent years, I have to wonder if the collective dreams of many people in my own country are faltering, potentially becoming like rotten meat, a heavy load, or something aged and saccharine. What will those dreams become?
Following your dreams is a common goal encouraged by many, but it’s not an easy thing to do with dreams, which sometimes have to be deferred for one reason or another. Holding onto those dreams gives you something to focus on, but working toward them is also important. I have my own dreams that I hope happen, and reflecting on these poems helps me to realize the complex aspects that dreams can have.
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