Langston Hughes

For once in my life, I am actually doing an assignment several days before its due... But let's not get caught up on that, because it will probably never happen again. This writer reminds me so much of Claude McKay, that it is almost scary. The somewhat flash back he offers, as well as, the meaningful words that Hughes uses, make these poems seem to jump off the page.

I unconsciously picked the shortest poem in the selection of poems by Langston Hughes in the Anthology. While some might think this would make it easier to determine a feeling from the poem, it seems to only make it harder. Justice is only 4 lines, and 26 words. Yet somehow, it feels as if this poem never ends. Hughes adds a hint of rhythm to the poem, as well as a bit of structure. The words seem to repeat themselves, reiterating the message within the lines.

That Justice is a blind goddess

Is a thing to which we black are wise. 

Her bandage hides two festering sores

That once perhaps were eyes.

The words of this poem feel like they are piercing my chest; knocking the wind out of me; pushing me down to where I cannot stand back up. The black are wise to Justice. They know what it means when someone yells, "Justice shall be served!" The irony in this poem is that Justice is being covered; not truthfully exposed as it should be. Another blogger shares similar thoughts here. 

Justice is simply defined as a just behavior or treatment. The element of surprise here is that the blacks back in 1927 were not being treated fairly, and those that were mistreating them, were not given the justice they deserved. The eyes mentioned in this poem are spoken of as windows to the outside world. What is seen through one persons, may not be seen the same way through another's eyes. To an extent, this continues to happen today. However, by God's grace and love, those who are truly remorseful and seek forgiveness from Him, will be served the right Justice they deserve. 

Claude McKay

If I had to choose a favorite poet, I think I would pick McKay. Simply because I have read his work before and I am familiar with it. But doesn't everyone do that? Say they "love" things they are familiar with? Anyway, McKay is one of those poets that brings about a sense of familiarity as well as dignity.
McKay writes with words that actually mean something. He writes with words that evoke joy as well as sadness. His poem, If We Must Die, is one of the most infuriating poems to me, for this poem was written as he is talking about his past, when slavery was a popular thing that happened in America. This poem was written in response to the riots and wars that had just finished in 1919.

If we must die, let it not be like hogs

Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot,

While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs,

Making their mock at our accursed lot.

If we must die, O let us nobly die,

So that our precious blood may not be shed

In vain; then even the monsters we defy

Shall be constrained to honor us though dead!

O kinsmen we must meet the common foe!

Though far outnumbered let us show us brave,

And for their thousand blows deal one deathblow!

What though before us lies the open grave?

Like men we'll face the murderous, cowardly pack,

Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!

"Dying, but fighting back," words that show perseverance as well as respect for those who have fought for their freedom as well as others freedom. McKay's shows a lot in his poems by simply choosing words that have a great impact on the reader.