Takisha Moody-Daniel
Mark Harper
L107/ 7917
Date: 2-5-15

Langston Hughes “Harlem” (pg.1019) is a lyric poem with irregular rhyme and irregular patterns that expresses how the blacks were treated during the oppression in America. There are eleven lines and seven sentences. Each sentence is a simple sentence. The poem consist of Alliteration: “What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up?” (Lines 1-2). “Syrupy sweet” (line 7). This poem consists of similes: “Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore- “(Lines 2-4) this is a comparison of the dream to a raisin and fester. “Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over- like a syrupy sweet?” (Lines 6-8) This is a comparison of the dream to foods. “Maybe it sags like a heavy load.” (Lines 9-10) Comparison of the dream to a heavy load.
The poem has a rhythmic, lyrical quality achieved by alliteration, rhyme, repetition of words and carefully placed syllables. The length of the poem varies. In line 1 it has eight syllables, line 2 has four, line 3 has seven, line 4 has six, and line 5 has three. The irregular pattern and movement gives the line a jagged edge, like a piece of broken glass, giving Hughes to leave an impression on the reader of being cut. The poem isn’t imitating any format used by other poets. It does show certain forms included in the following: Each line is stressed, except for line 7. Six of the seven lines of the poem are questions. Each sentence except for the first sentence and the last are using similes with the word like. There is also a pattern with