Negro Speaks Of Rivers Poem by Langston Hughes

Negro Speaks Of Rivers

Rating: 3.7


I've known rivers:
I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the
flow of human blood in human veins

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young
I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.
I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln
went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy
bosom turn all golden in the sunset

I've known rivers:
Ancient, dusky rivers.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Mel Vincent Basconcillo 19 April 2009

he is truly amazing and magnificent

19 8 Reply
Simone Callender-lindo 29 April 2013

This poem is so deep, soulful and full of meaning. Langston Hughes is simply a great wordsmith. I truly enjoy reading all his poems.

8 4 Reply
Margaret O Driscoll 09 February 2016

Wonderful work, very meaningful

6 0 Reply
Ahmed Gumaa Siddiek 23 February 2016

poet Langston Hughes #6 on top 500 poets Poet's PagePoemsQuotesCommentsStatsE-BooksBiographyVideosShare on FacebookShare on Twitter Poems by Langston Hughes: 63 / 103 « prev. poem next poem » Negro Speaks Of Rivers - Poem by Langston Hughes Autoplay next video I've known rivers: I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins This poem is one of the best of Hughes poems and one of the best of its time. Philosophy is intermingled with geography, history and sociology. Human anatomy with arts all together in one bunch. the words are simply chosen to serve the idea of freedom and human emancipation from both factors of time and place. It is the freedom of the soul and mind.

3 0 Reply
Tom Allport 26 December 2016

we all lived by a river, the river of life

3 0 Reply
Justus Graves 19 August 2020

I like the poem and it is very well said but a bit difficult in my opinion for a 8th grader to understand the meaning of.

0 0 Reply
Alouwou Mandjah 11 March 2020

My soul has grown deep like the rivers. Langston Hughes

2 0 Reply
Michael Walker 15 October 2019

This is still my favorite poem by Langston Hughes. 'I' symbolizes all negroes in different times and places' from ancient Egypt to the American Civil War, 'when Abe Lincoln/ went down to New Orleans, .' What an evocative phrase that is.

1 0 Reply
Aiden schultz 07 February 2019

Love it so much and it’s very perfect

1 1 Reply
Frannie 20 December 2017

yyeeaahh, great poem? i think it's gone to far.

3 0 Reply
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