Jake Kuczeruk
12/8/05
English 11
“The Weary Blues”
One of the most important poems of the 20th century, “The Weary Blues”, was also one of the most easily misconstrued. As the title may suggest, Langston Hughes’s “The Weary Blues” is most appealing because it was crafted with all the style and rhythm of a blues song. This poem is saturated with internal meanings and lessons about life. Usage of rhymes, sentences with double meanings, and figurative language, are all imperative to this poem’s meaning. This poem attempts to teach you to find respect for all people, and appreciate what is important on this earth. In reading this poem, the reader might even discover something that could change his or her own life.
What is first noticed about this poem upon reading it would be its flow and rhythmic properties. “The Weary Blues” is a poem exactly fitting to what its title suggests. Partially because of parallelism used in lines six and seven, as well as in nineteen and twenty, the song takes on its music qualities. The actual quoted song that the old black man at the piano sings is just a piece of this. Lines like “Ain’t got nobody in all this word/ Ain’t got nobody but ma self” (19-20), help to give the poem its rhythmic tone. The poem tells the story of a man’s struggle in life, just as the song does. From the beginning, it beckons the reader to look further. This rhythm reinforces the tone of the poem; one of finding calm satisfaction amongst a period of bleak enjoyment. The entire poem itself manages to enable the reader to connect with the singer, as if the reader was down in Harlem, listening to him in a club. At the same time, it manages to let the reader connect with the poet, as if his visions were being replayed in your own head. The rhyming in the poem blends with its repeated phrases and unorthodox rhymes. Music is something to be appreciated, as well as those responsible for its creation. The same appreciation applies to this poem. This poem isn’t one that is simply read, but one that forces the reader to really listen.
Second, I find the subtext and double meanings to be an important factor in determining and understanding this poem to its fullest extent. This poem tells the tale of an African American man sitting at his piano, expressing all of his feelings and emotions until he reaches a point where he is completely physically and emotionally drained. This character’s struggles invokes a deep appreciation for his hardships. Since this poem was written during the time period of the Harlem Renaissance, the African American culture is instrumental in this poem’s meaning. The old singer’s crooning about an unhappy life is letting his feelings out as a form of expression. African Americans in this time had endured the harsh reality of not being viewed as equals. In this pre-Martin Luther King Jr. age, people saw the African American race as something inferior to that of other Americans. As African American singers and poets began to find their niche in expression, Langston Hughes wrote about it. He used the old man at the piano to represent the whole meaning and ideas behind this Harlem Renaissance movement. Beyond that lies other supporting double meanings. The final three lines state “The singer stopped playing and went to bed/ While the Weary Blues echoed through his head/ He slept like a rock or a man that’s dead” (33-35). These lines help reiterate that he is content with the work he does. He is assured a good night sleep because he went out and expressed himself peacefully, and worked through all his pain. Through the Harlem Renaissance, many African American artists found a way to let their feelings out. Expression in the period kept a lot of African Americans from engaging in physical altercations with the oppression of the Caucasian-dominant society. His passion through his art is directly parallel to the passion in not just the art, but the life of every oppressed African American individual. The real heart of this poem lies in its messages. With the main message being concealed in this black singer, it leaves room for the reader to really think and analyze the poem for themselves. A poem designed to spark thought (possibly relating to civil rights) is exactly what Langston Hughes was intending to do
The sounds devices and figurative language in this poem are what really keep it interesting. Depending on how the reader interprets the poem, some areas could be construed as metaphors. Some metaphors are obvious though, such as in the last few lines, where it describes the stars following their nightly practices. The black man at the piano could even be one if it was viewed that he represented all of black America. The “thump” (23) is a textbook example of an onomatopoeia. The onomatopoeia isn’t used to make the poem seem more exciting, but more to make it feel like these events have really happened. It created a clear picture for the reader. Similes are also present in this poem. In line 35 when it is stated “he slept like a rock or a man that’s dead”, a simile is used to help depict some of the message in the poem. Because of its abundant use of similes and metaphors, the poem’s double meanings begin to become apparent. Visuals are given to coincide with the reading to help the reader visualize the events of this poem. The reader can really feel the poem as being a man’s most honest form of expression.
“The Weary Blues” is a poem that can apply to anyone in the world. It can teach the reader about what value should be placed on in life, what is overlooked, and how to be truly happy. Pausing to interpret a personal meaning gives the reader plenty to reflect upon. Figurative language, double meanings, and a unique rhythm help to induce theses thoughts. If Langston Hughes wanted this poem to be his masterpiece, it would be hard to disagree with that statement on any level. It honestly will alter the reader’s life if he or she is open to listening to what it has to say.
