Better Late than Never

Langston Hughes’ poem “Harlem” is broken down into four main stanzas. The first stanza consists of a single question. This isolated question introduces the subject at hand, a delayed dream, with significant emphasis. By serving as the heart of this poem, the singular question demands the reader’s attention and understanding of the situation at hand. This question is what carries the reader throughout the entire poem; it is the basis of comparison for every other question. The organization of this first line promotes clarity, and the lack of confusion; Hughes message is apparent.

Meanwhile, the next stanza holds of a cluster of questions. These questions serve as ambiguous answers in regards to the first question that is asked. There is uncertainty here. Each question serves as an example of what happens to something if it is, like the dream, neglected for so long. Furthermore, there is a sense of progression and relationship between the questions asked. They all seem to relate towards one another, especially with the question that was asked before it.

For example, a raisin becomes so dry, that it is inedible. By loosing all of it nutritional value, it becomes worthless. Similarly, a sore that is unattended, becomes infected, so that it takes longer to heal. The relation between the two occurs somewhat ironically. The raisin was dried out for too long, while the sore needed to be dried out in order to heal. Considering this, the next example is that of rotten meat. Meat that is left out for too long (like the raisin) becomes infected (like the sore). The relationship between the questions seems to grow; they all correspond with one another. The last example is that of honey or syrup crusting over. Unlike the meat and the raisin it is not completely inedible if it is neglected for so long. As long as the surface crust is removed, the honey or syrup can still be consumed. Similarly if the sore is taken care of, it will heal. Like the honey or syrup, it still holds potential usage.

Now, with this in mind, it becomes apparent that the questions feed off one another and have not been placed at random. The questions are somewhat back and forth progressions between the potential outcomes that may still exist within this dream. From the lack of possible outcome/ gain (raisin, meat) to the possibility of potential (sore, syrup).

Finally, the last two stanzas are also structured the same way the first line is. They are both isolated, although one is a statement and the other is another question. These two stanzas also fall into the pattern of the poem. From certain to uncertain to certain to uncertain again. The organization and the structure of this poem are at times clear and at other times unclear, somewhat like the initial question. As a result, this poem is very effective in capturing the attention of the reader in relation to the main issue at hand. Although this dream has already been neglected for so long, does it still hold possibilty? Look around, better late than never.