Langston Hughes; Writing Time

This afternoon please read the short story "Thank You, M'am" and learn a little about Langston Hughes. 

Langston Hughes: "As I Grew Older"

It was a long time ago.
I have almost forgotten my dream.
But it was there then,
In front of me,
Bright like a sun—
My dream.
And then the wall rose,
Rose slowly,
Slowly,
Between me and my dream.
Rose until it touched the sky—
The wall.
Shadow.
I am black.
I lie down in the shadow.
No longer the light of my dream before me,
Above me.
Only the thick wall.
Only the shadow.
My hands! 
My dark hands! 
Break through the wall! 
Find my dream! 
Help me to shatter this darkness,
To smash this night,
To break this shadow
Into a thousand lights of sun,
Into a thousand whirling dreams
Of sun! 

"Suicide's Note"  

The calm, 
Cool face of the river
Asked me for a kiss.

"Life is Fine"

I went down to the river, 
I set down on the bank. 
I tried to think but couldn't, 
So I jumped in and sank. 

I came up once and hollered! 
I came up twice and cried! 
If that water hadn't a-been so cold 
I might've sunk and died. 

But it was Cold in that water! It was cold! 

I took the elevator 
Sixteen floors above the ground. 
I thought about my baby 
And thought I would jump down. 

I stood there and I hollered! 
I stood there and I cried! 
If it hadn't a-been so high 
I might've jumped and died. 

But it was High up there! It was high! 

So since I'm still here livin', 
I guess I will live on. 
I could've died for love-- 
But for livin' I was born 

Though you may hear me holler, 
And you may see me cry-- 
I'll be dogged, sweet baby, 
If you gonna see me die. 

Life is fine! Fine as wine! Life is fine!

"Mother to Son"

Well, son, I’ll tell you:

Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.

It’s had tacks in it,

And splinters,

And boards torn up,

And places with no carpet on the floor—

Bare.

But all the time

I’se been a-climbin’ on,

And reachin’ landin’s,

And turnin’ corners,

And sometimes goin’ in the dark

Where there ain’t been no light.

So boy, don’t you turn back.

Don’t you set down on the steps

’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.

Don’t you fall now—

For I’se still goin’, honey,

I’se still climbin’,

And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.

Themes: the most common themes in literature are:
1. Life
2. Love
3. Nature
4. Death
Use them.
  In the lab: use your time in the lab this afternoon to write. Write any creative responses you may have written in your journal/notebook on Mary Oliver's poetry (from Thursday and Monday) or inspired from the short stories you read in Sudden Fiction.

Today's task is easy. Write. Use your time to write. Remember the enemies of the artistic process and keep these guys from ruining your writing time! You may write about anything. You may write a poem, or several poems, or a short story. You may write. You will write. Go write!

HOMEWORK: Please pages 70-78 in your Sudden Fiction books for next class. Catch up with this reading if you are currently behind. Any draft you are writing in the lab can be continued or completed as a draft for homework. Go home and read and write!