The Negro Speaks of Rivers by Langston Hughes

The Negro Speaks of Rivers

I've known rivers:

I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the

flow of human blood in human veins.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.

I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.

I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.

I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln

went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy

bosom turn all golden in the sunset.

I've known rivers:

Ancient, dusky rivers.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS was written by Langston when he was only 20.  He was inspired to write the poem when traveling from the east to Mexico where his father lived.  When he crossed the mighty Mississippi River he was inspired by its beauty, but also reminded of the part this river played in the history of America.

If you listen to this wonderful audio clip at Poets.Org you can hear him talk about how it reminded him of what his grandmother told him.  That to be sold 'down the Mississippi' was one of the worst things that could happen to a slave.

This video (below) adds some imagery to the audio.

THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS  is not a long poem, but it reads beautifully and is at a level that elementary aged children can begin to appreciate the messages and themes.   

Illustrator E.B. Lewis --who won a Caldecott Honor Book Award in 2005 for Coming on Home Soon -- brings life to Langston's lines. The richness of the colors, the vibrancy of images are nearly impossible to describe. Suffice it to say that I can't imagine any gallery would not be delighted to have them in their collection.  [And here is one more video you might want to share.  The images are pretty.]

[And here is one more video you might want to share.  The images are pretty.]

The combination of art and text makes THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS an excellent choice for both home and school shelves.  I purchased it because I happen to believe that poetry is an important part of children's education.  And so Langston sits beside Shel Silverstein and THE BROOK by Tennyson.  My kids are happy perusing the pictures, and like to hear the cadence of the words when their dad or I read it.

If you fear that some of the message will be over your children's heads; don't worry, if they have access, and if you continue to read it and discuss the imagery, they will grow into it.

Pam~


THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS
by Langston Hughes
Illustrated by E.B. Lewis

**Starred Review** ALA BookList
**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly
**Starred Review** School Library Journa

4.32 Stars from 247 GoodReaders 
Page Count: 32
no reading information available

updated August 2013