Harlem
BY
LANGSTON HUGHES
1902–1967
Langston Hughes
| What happens to a dream deferred? |
| Does it dry up | |
| like a raisin in the sun? | |
| Or fester like a sore— | |
| And then run? | |
| Does it stink like rotten meat? | |
| Or crust and sugar over— | |
| like a syrupy sweet? |
| Maybe it just sags | |
| like a heavy load. |
| Or does it explode? |