Langston Hughes was a part of the Harlem Renaissance. He was a poet but also wrote novels, short stories, essays, and plays. Hughes tried to portray the realities of working-class Black lives. He said, “We younger Negro artists who create now intend to express our individual dark-skinned selves without fear or shame. If white people are pleased we are glad. If they are not, it doesn’t matter. We know we are beautiful. And ugly too.” Dream-singers,Story-tellers,Dancers,Loud Laughers in the hands of Fate— My people.Dish-washers,Elevator-boys,Ladies' maids,Crap-shooters,Cooks,Waiters,Jazzers,Nurses of babies,Loaders of ships,Rounders,Number writers,Comedians in vaudevilleAnd band-men in circuses—Dream-singers all,—— My people.Story-tellers all,—My people. Dancers—God! What dancers! Singers—God! What singers!Singers and dancersDancers and laughers…

I have featured Wendy Cope’s poetry a few times before. I always enjoy her writing when I stumble across it, so I should make an effort to read more of her works. Maybe I need to buy a volume of her poems. Buying a book is always a good idea. She is known for her “remarkable talent for parody, word play, dexterity with received forms, and the use of humor to address grave topics.” Today’s poem made me smile and sometimes that is all we need. People tell you all the time,Poems do not have to rhyme.It's often better if they don'tAnd I'm determined this one won't.Oh dear.Neve mind, I'll…