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.