Langston Hughes

"Imitation is not just the sincerest form of flattery - it's the sincerest 

form of learning."— George Bernard Shaw

Welcome to Day 23 of FEET IN THE CREEK.

Week 4 Poets:
April 22: Lee Bennett Hopkins


For each day I have chosen a favorite poem, a favorite poet, or a favorite friend. I will look at the work, decide what draws me to it, what makes it resonate for me, and then write my own poem about the creek with those techniques in mind. These are first drafts, so nothing will be especially polished, but they will be starting points for revision after the month is done. Feel free to follow along or join in.

Today's poet is Langston Hughes. Enjoy this reading by Hughes, The Weary Blues," with background jazz.



April Rain Song
by Langston Hughes

Let the rain kiss you.
Let the rain beat upon your head with
      silver liquid drops.
Let the rain sing you a lullaby.
The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk.
The rain makes running pools in the gutter.
The rain plays a little sleep-song on our room at night.
And I love the rain.

My intention: Write a poem about the wind following the repeated line patterns: Let...Let...Let...The rain...the rain...the rain. 


Wind

Let the wind stroke your face.
Let the wind whip your hair
      into soaring strands.
Let the wind place his powerful
      hands on your chest,
      press you toward the rock.
The wind rushes through the trees.
The wind roars his mighty song in the branches.
The wind reaches toward the swirling clouds.
I lift my arms to embrace the wind.

© Doraine Bennett, 2016. All rights reserved.

Week 1 poets:
April 1: Ralph Fletcher
April 2: Douglas Florian
April 3: Progressive poem. Catch up here.
April 4: Michelle Heidenrich Barnes
April 5: Walt Whitman
April 6: Irene Latham
April 7: Carmen Bernos de Gasztold


Week 2 Poets:
April 8: Janet Wong
April 9: George Ella Lyon
April 10: Bobbi Katz
April 11: Nikki Giovanni
April 12: Margarita Engle
April 13: Mother Goose
April 14: William Carlos Williams

Week 3 Poets:
April 15: Myra Cohn Livingston
April 16: Mary Ann Doberman
April 17: Christina Rosetti
April 18: Rebecca Kai Doltish
April 19: Wallace Stevens
April 20: April Halprin Wayland
April 21: Robyn Hood Black