Langston Hughes

Dream Deferred
[Also called "Harlem"]

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore-
And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over-
like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.

Or does it explode? .