POEM

I look at the world

by Langston Hughes

I look at the world
From awakening eyes in a black face—
And this is what I see:
This fenced-off narrow space
Assigned to me.

I look then at the silly walls
Through dark eyes in a dark face—
And this is what I know:
That all these walls oppression builds
Will have to go!

I look at my own body
With eyes no longer blind—
And I see that my own hands can make
The world that's in my mind.
Then let us hurry, comrades,
The road to find.

This poem originally appeared in the January 2009 issue of Poetry.

January 2009 issue of Poetry Magazine

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 Langston  Hughes

Langston Hughes was first recognized as an important literary figure during the 1920s, a . . . MORE »

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