When I Get to be a Composer
By Langston Hughes
When I get to be a composer
I’m gonna write me some music about
Daybreak in Alabama
And I’m gonna put the purtiest songs in it
Rising out of the ground like a swamp mist
And falling out of heaven like soft dew.
I’m gonna put some tall tall trees in it
And the scent of pine needles
And the smell of red clay after rain
And long red necks
And poppy colored faces
And big brown arms
And the field daisy eyes
Of black and white black white black people
And I’m gonna put white hands
And black hands and brown and yellow hands
And red clay earth hands in it
Touching everybody with kind fingers
And touching each other natural as dew
In that dawn of music when I
Get to be a composer
And write about daybreak
In Alabama.
Jewniquely Myself 
Well , can you sing this too???
It’s certainly worth trying!
The poet who wrote this lived in the midst of Jazz music, so those rhythms couldn’t help flowing through his words.
Thanks so much for being here, my friend, blessings and sweetness to you *hummingbirds**wispy clouds**children dancing*
Like this & the southern expression
The poet was a master at catching Jazz rhythms in his work.And being Black, he had a lot to say about America’s racism. Too bad it still needs to be said. Wishing you sweetness, Joanne
Like this & the southern expression
Hi Joan,
Thanks for posting this poem. It’s beautiful and is the essence of Mr. Hughes.
Ann Chiappetta, Author
Anniecms64@gmail.com
` Making meaningful connections with others through writing `
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“We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.”
* Joseph Campbell
I agree!! Thanks for stopping by, Annie, blessings to you *hummingbirds*