CONTENTS

Introducing Langston Hughes to the reader
by Carl Van Vechten		 9
Proem 19
THE WEARY BLUES
The Weary Blues 23
Jazzonia 25
Negro Dancers 26
The Cat and the Saxophone 27
Young Singer 28
Cabaret 29
To Midnight Nan at Leroy’s 30
To a Little Lover-Lass, Dead 31
Harlem Night Club 32
Nude Young Dancer 33
Young Prostitute 34
To a Black Dancer 35
Song for a Banjo Dance 36
Blues Fantasy 37
Lenox Avenue: Midnight 39
DREAM VARIATIONS
Dream Variations 43
Winter Moon 44
Poème d’Automne 45
Fantasy in Purple 46
March Moon 47
Joy 48
THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS
The Negro Speaks of Rivers 51
Cross 52
The Jester 53
The South 54
As I Grew Older 55
Aunt Sue’s Stories 57
Poem 58
A BLACK PIERROT
A Black Pierrot 61
Harlem Night Song 62
Songs to the Dark Virgin 63
Ardella 64
Poem—To the Black Beloved 65
When Sue Wears Red 66
Pierrot 67
WATER FRONT STREETS
Water Front Streets 71
A Farewell 72
Long Trip 73
Port Town 74
Sea Calm 75
Caribbean Sunset 76
Young Sailor 77
Seascape 78
Natcha 79
Sea Charm 80
Death of an Old Seaman 81
SHADOWS IN THE SUN
Beggar Boy 85
Troubled Woman 86
Suicide’s Note 87
Sick Room 88
Soledad 89
To the Dark Mercedes 90
Mexican Market Woman 91
After Many Springs 92
Young Bride 93
The Dream Keeper 94
Poem (To F. S.) 95
OUR LAND
Our Land 99
Lament for Dark Peoples 100
Afraid 101
Poem—For the Portrait of an African Boy 102
Summer Night 103
Disillusion 104
Danse Africaine 105
The White Ones 106
Mother to Son 107
Poem 108
Epilogue 109