Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Langston Hughes

A Dream Deferred

by Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes homepage


What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?
Could you improve this poem?
If I asked you to subtract one word that would make the poem better what word would that be?
If I asked you to add two lines to this poem to improve it what would you add? Where would you put these two lines exactly?
If I asked you to change three words in this poem to make it better what words would you change? And what would be your replacement words?

28 comments:

  1. dsasdagskoiweuetv ioej6tyjbht66ymps0E9PN-

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  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  3. I will take the word syrupy.
    I would put "with loud sounds?" "can it speak?"and I will place it at the end of the poem.
    I would change the words syrupy, sags, and does. I will replace syrupy with crumbly, sags with hang, and does with will.

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  4. What happens to a dream deferred?

    Does it SHRIVEL up like a raisin in the sun?
    Or fester like a sore--
    And then run?
    Does it SMELL like rotten meat?
    Or crust and sugar over--
    like a syrupy TREAT?

    Maybe it just sags
    like a heavy load.
    OR MAYBE IT LEAKS
    LIKE A TUB OVER FLOWED

    Or does it explode?

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  5. 1.I would take the word just out from the end.
    2. At the end, I would put, does it go boom? instead of does it explode?

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  6. What happens to a dream deferred?

    Does it dry up like a raisin?
    Or fester like a sore--

    Does it stink like rotten meat?
    Or crust and sugar over--
    like a syrupy sweet?

    Maybe it just sags
    like a heavy load.

    Or does it explode?

    or disppear like a dream?

    or like the wind?

    i dont get this warm up.

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  7. 1.yes
    2.I would take out the word "just"
    3.I would add the lines "like a bomb in war?" and " Like a night flowers bud?" at the end of the poem.

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  8. if i could subtract one word from this poem, i would subtract the word " like" in line 7.

    if i were to add two lines, i would add it after line 9.
    i would add
    " does it sail away,
    like a ship at bay?"

    syrupy --> sugary
    deferred --> delayed
    sags --> hangs

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  9. What happens in a dream?
    Does it last the way we want them to?
    Or just fade into nothing-ness?
    Does it stink like rotten meat?
    Or crust and sugar over--
    like a syrupy sweet?
    Maybe it just dawns
    like a ending day.
    Or does it explode?

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  10. If I were to subtract one word, I would subtract "like" on line 7 or 9.

    If I were to add two lines, it would be
    "Does it disappear--
    Like a lost memory?"
    I would put those after line 9.

    I would change the words
    "sag" - "drop"
    "stink" - "smell"
    "deferred" - "delayed"

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  11. I would subtract deferred.
    Does plump up as if it was reborn.
    right a fter the one where it say s dried up...

    Is it light like a feather in flight
    right after the one it says heavy load...
    deffered and put unsolved...
    load and put bags
    explode and put or does it burst.

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  12. What happens to a dream deferred?

    Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?
    Or HEAL like a sore--
    And then run?
    Does it have a STENCH like rotten meat?
    Or crust and sugar over--
    like a syrupy CANDIED?

    Maybe it just sags
    like a heavy load.

    Or does it explode?
    Or simply ERUPT
    better yet OVERFLOWS

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  13. I would remove the word Or at the very bottom of the poem, in order to make the poem better.

    I would add two more lines between the large group of six lines and the group with two lines. I would add
    "like talking to a tree
    with no reply"

    If i could replace three words into the poem, they would be
    fester to blister
    stink to smell
    and over to it,
    Because when he added "over", I wasn't quite sure what he has referring to.

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  14. If i subtracted the a word it would be deferred.

    If I added two lines it would be
    Does it become a like an old hag with too many bags?
    Or does it hop around like a toad?
    right before the heavy load line.

    If I would change 3 words, it would be
    Stink-Decay
    Syrupy-Honey
    Sore-Blister

    What happens to a dream?

    Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?
    Or fester like a blister--
    And then run?
    Does it stink like rotten meat?
    Or crust and sugar over--
    like a honey-like sweet?

    Does it become a like an old hag with too many bags?
    Or does it hop around like a toad?
    Maybe it just sags
    like a heavy load.



    Or does it explode?

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  15. What happens to a dream deferred?

    Does it dry up like a raisin?
    Or washes away with the rain?

    Does it stink like a unwashed sock?
    Or crust and sugar over toast
    like a syrupy sweet?

    Maybe it just sags
    like a heavy load.

    Or does it explode?

    or disppear like a dream?

    or like the wind?

    i dont get this warm up

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  16. 1. I would take out over.
    2. Two lines would be at the end.
    'Maybe it could destroy a city,
    or turn everything into ashes.'
    3. Three words are: 'fester' to change, 'sweet' to honey, and 'sags' to drag.

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  17. I dont think I could improve this poem.
    I would subract heavey on line 9.
    I dont think i would add anything.
    I would change sags to wet.Change explode to implode.Change sore to a cut.

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  18. I will take out the word - "up"

    add two line after the eigth line
    "does it feel like being stab?"
    "too painful to breath"

    change 3 words
    stink-smell
    explode-blow
    run-escape

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  19. i would remove trhe word just it might not make it better but it sounds funnier.

    i dont know what i would do.

    i dont know what words i would change and what i would replace it with

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  20. 1. The word that I would subract, would be sugar.

    2. What happens to a dream deferred?

    Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?
    Or fester like a sore--
    And then run?
    Does it stink like rotten meat?
    Or crust and sugar over--
    like a syrupy sweet?

    Does it sour like rotth milk?

    Maybe it just sags
    like a heavy load.

    Does it slip from your hands like a handful of water?

    Or does it explode?

    3. I would change sore to wound, sag with sink, and explode with burst.

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  21. 1. I will take off the word heavy next to load.

    2. " will it crash like a heavy splash, maybe it will turn into trash."<<<<< this goes above the "MAYBE IT JUST SAGS LIKE A HEAVY LOAD".

    3. No i think it's best the way it was.

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  22. 1. i would subtract the word deferred
    2. i would add two lines :
    is it memorable
    or is it worstless
    after 9
    3. i would change the word fester for little.and the word sags for pressure, and syrup for honey

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  23. .yes
    2.I would take out the word "just"
    3.I would add the lines "like a bomb in war?" and " Like a night flowers bud?" at the end of the poem.
    4. If i were ot improve 3 words i would change the "stink" to "crynge" i would change "sugar" to "comb" and i would change "sweet" to treat"

    Does it stink like rotten meat?
    Or crust and sugar over--
    like a syrupy sweet?

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  24. I would subtract deferred.
    The two lines that I would add at the end are...
    -does it fly away in the wind?
    -Or does stay there but unseen?
    The three words that I would change are stink to smell, sags to fall, and
    deffered to delayed.

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  25. 1.i would take away defered

    what happens to a dream
    does it dry up like a raisin

    is it light like a feather inflight
    it jus dropes like a bag full of stuff

    and it explodes

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  26. 1. The word And from line 4.
    2. Does it stay afar? Like a dark night's star?I would it put after, Or crust and sugar over--like a syrupy sweet.
    3. Stink to Smell. Syrupy to Crumbling. Sags with hangs.

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  27. I would take out the word deferred.

    The two lines I would add would be:
    Maybe it just stays put,
    And never again to be looked.
    I would put this after syrupy treat?

    The three words I would change are:
    sugar - crinkle
    deferred - forgotten
    sags - drags

    What happens to a dream forgotten?

    Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?
    Or fester like a sore--
    And then run?
    Does it stink like rotten meat?
    Or crust and crinkle over--
    like a syrupy sweet?

    Maybe it just stays put,
    And never again to be looked.

    Maybe it just drags
    like a heavy load.

    Or does it explode?

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  28. I wouldnt really change anything. But i would take out the word "crust"

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