Harlem Renaissance Poems | Examples


List of Member Poems

Harlem Renaissance Haiku

Near nice allies need
to confront this beast in the 
moment to be brave.

Not in a memoir 
when you’re 75 and 
few feet from the grave. 

For colored people 
and all people of color
start a whining wave.

Why do we still fight
for the same civil rights of 
nineteen sixty-three?

Did you know Comcast
is fighting against the rights  
of Black and poor folks?

Look it up yourself
know what is going on around you
find a cause to fight.

Use your pen and voice
raise your voice and write it down
vote a righteous cause.

Organize your block
note differences and respect
put judgement on pause. 

Let’s make it better
you and I together to
help correct the flaws.

Premium Member Langston Hughes

Iconic, late African-American poet, Langston Hughes. 
Dropped name"John Mercer"; wrote "The Weary Blues"

 As one of the leading voices in the Harlem Renaissance.
Poem, "Dream Deferred," deemed his piece de resistance.

Imitation

Accents blending in the air.  Southern drawl slowly mixing with Caribbean beats,,
Until the energy of the Harlem Renaissance tops it all off.
"We don't like you." Says the wind to the teenage girl.
"You have to much mixture,to much blend.  You don't fit into any boxes."
                    says the rain drop.
"Change, cut two mixtures or else." threatens the lightning.

But to cut even one would leave her vulnerable to all elements.  She needed
her full foundation.  
"We don't like you." says the wind again.
"I don't care." says the girl.
"You will." roared the thunder.
The blend bubbled inside of her but didn't boil over.  It went to slow simmer.
She smiled in calmness not anger.
"At least you dislike me, not a cheap imitation of someone else." says the girl.

Then the sun stood up.

"Leave her alone.  She is my real gem." says the sun.

The sun brightened the sky above her head.


Langston Hughes

Written from black hands,
Innovative jazz poems:
Harlem renaissance.

Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.

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