"Harlem: A Dream Deferred" by Langston Hughes

What happened to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up

Like a raisin in the sun

Or a fester like a sore-

And then run?

Does it sink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over-

Like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just says

Like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

What is this poem trying to tell you about life?

Answer and Explanation:

The speaker in Langston Hughes's "Harlem: A Dream Deferred" asks what happens when we do not accomplish our dreams. Notice that most of the comparisons he makes are negative, which is illustrated by his word choice - "fester", "explode", "dry up", "rotten".

What the poem is trying to tell us about life is that we should not allow our dreams to be deferred, postponed. Nothing good comes from neglecting our dreams. We should go for it, try our best. It is not only important to have dreams, but also to hold fast to them. Even though we must encounter hardships as we work for them to happen, we should not lose faith.

the words "slavery," "devils," and "murderer" evoke a sense of disgust.

i'm not good at running