"Dreams" by Langston Hughes

What is the first thing that comes to mind when someone says “dream”? Langston Hughes, a writer who was a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, believed that dreams give life purpose and meaning. In his poem, “Dreams,” the narrator warns the reader that abandoning hopes, aspirations, fantasies, etc., steals the vitality of life. 

The narrator begins by advising the reader to hold on to their dreams, showcasing the pain of life without them. The speaker compares the pain to a “broken-winged bird / That cannot fly,” a creature in suffering that has lost one of its defining traits. The idea is that without dreams, one may lose a part of themselves. This comparison also suggests that dreams are a defining trait of humanity that drives and sustains people. A life without dreams is painful, frustrating, and deprived.

Another comparison to a dreamless life is “a barren field / Frozen with snow.” Unlike the bird that is alive and may heal, the field can not sustain life. Indicating that the pain felt from such an experience may not just be a passing phase but an emotional or spiritual death. Dreams, defined in the dictionary, are fantasies or illusions adding significant meaning to the metaphor. It suggests that life is harsh, cold, and empty when seen as it is. 

The narrator urges people to hang on to their dreams along with a warning on the future. There is a shift in tone from the first stanza to the second, while in the first verse, it says, “If dreams die,” the second verse states ”when dreams go.” The second indicates that nothing can keep dreams alive for long. Dreams are not permanent like most things in life, and losing them is just a matter of “when” not “if.” Their loss brings pain and emptiness. The poem argues that dreams are a vital source of pleasure, strength, and sustenance. Without the dreams of today, there is no tomorrow.

• Noor