Democracy - A poem by Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes - Democracy

Democracy will not come
Today, this year
   Nor ever
Through compromise and fear.

I have as much right 
As the other fellow has
  To stand
On my two feet 
And own the land.

I tire so of hearing people say, 
Let things take their course.
Tomorrow is another day.
I do not need my freedom when I'm dead.
I cannot live on tomorrow's bread.

      Freedom
      Is a strong seed
      Planted
      In a great need.

      I live here, too.
      I want freedom
      Just as you.

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Added: Feb 20 2003 | Viewed: 62877 times |

Comments (8)

Democracy - Comments and Information
Poet: Langston Hughes Poem: Democracy Year: Published/Written in 1949 Comment 8 of 8, added on March 1st, 2011 at 12:03 AM. Form and Structuce I want to know the form and structure of the poem "Democracy by Langston Hughes" and "I Know why the Cage Bird Sings by Maya Angelou". Can anyone help me? I really need your help, please... Michael from Malaysia Comment 7 of 8, added on February 17th, 2011 at 8:32 AM. ENGLISH As it is suggested by the Scholars that whatever Writers write it must reflects the society in which he or she lives so Hughes Poem reflects the way Black Americans were treated were tortured,humiliated,harassed and not allowed to participate full in Political matters in short they had no say which are against with Human rights as declared in 1948.So we need FREEDOM through it DEMOCRACY could be attained.Congratulation to the writer for being FREEDOM FIGHTER. ERICK MKWEJI from Tanzania Comment 6 of 8, added on August 17th, 2010 at 12:40 AM. Corporate Personhood Hughes' poem is concise and unambiguous. I wonder though...Would Hughes' be ok with a Corporation such as McDonald's or Exxon/Mobil reciting his poem. That is, essentially what the Supreme Court has decided in the recent first amendment case brought before the court by a Corporately funded group called Citizens United! According to the Supreme Court, corporations deserve free speech rights! Corporate personhood will eventually spell the end of democratic representative government. Bye, bye America! That is, unless we get out and do what Hughes suggested. We need a grassroots movement to amend the constitution to disallow corporate personhood and all corporate sponsorship of out lawmakers and government officials. Corporations belong in a subservient role in our society, not the dominant role that they have developed over the last few decades. Douglas from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Democracy, has received 8 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own.

Poem Info
Poet: Langston Hughes Poem: Democracy Year: Published/Written in 1949 Last read: 2013-06-19 19:48:45 Viewed 62877 times. Added Feb 20 2003.

Hughes Info
Biography More Poems (29 poems) Langston Hughes books