When he started reading books seriously, he started losing himself to the books. He loved the way books could say something ordinary in the most elegant way that you could barely recognize the concept. Hughes, the young poet, was fascinated by the elaborate grandeur of language he read in books. 'Then it was that books began to happen to me, and I began to believe in nothing but books and the wonderful world in books - where if people suffered, they suffered in beautiful language, not in monosyllables as we did in Kansas.' Hughes

As quickly as he can think of a line, he cannot record the line in written form, just the same as you can never find the end of a rainbow. Now he realizes that he lost the vast majority of his poetry to memory, or more accurately the limitations of language. Hughes is relating his artistic history here. 'For poems are like rainbows they escape you quickly.' Hughes Hughes is chastising the people for not actually doing anything. The 'New Negro' movement was supposed to be a season of political, social, and economic change for African Americans, but instead the members of the movement became interested in social acclaim and money. He is writing this book out of frustration with unfulfilled promises. 'The only way to get a thing done is to start to do it, then keep on doing it, and finally you'll finish it.' HughesĬriticizing the members of the Harlem Renaissance for not being productive with their fame, Hughes offers a solution: do what you say you're going to do. Written by people who wish to remain anonymous We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community.

The Big Sea by Langston Hughes