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Langston Hughes graduated from high school in 1920 and spent the following year in Mexico with his father. In 1921 he returned to the United States and enrolled at Columbia University. However, he dropped out in 1922. He lived in Paris for a few years, developing and publishing his poetry. In November 1924 Hughes returned to the United States and met poet Vachel Lindsay. He showed some of his poems to Lindsay, who was impressed enough to promote his poetry and bring it to a wider audience overall.
I chose the poem "April Rain Song" because I felt very relaxed and calm whenever letting the words sink in. It sends a very comforting message overall and makes me think of times where I have found relaxation in rainy days. He loves the rain, and I do too.
Langston Hughes was born and raised in Joplin, Missouri. His mother and father separated and his father moved to New Mexico while his mother moved around. As a result, he was raised by his grandmother, Mary, until she died in his early teenage years. He then went on to live with his mother, who eventually settled in Cleveland, Ohio.
When he and his mother settled in Cleveland, Ohio, Hughes started to write poetry. His teachers then introduced him to some poets that he would later cite as some primary influences, such as Walt Whitman and Carl Sandberg. Hughes was a regular contributor to his school's literary magazine, and frequently submitted to other poetry magazines, although they would ultimately reject him.
Let the rain kiss you
Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops
Let the rain sing you a lullaby
The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk
The rain makes running pools in the gutter
The rain plays a little sleep song on our roof at night
And I love the rain.
Some examples of figurative language in this poem are used frequently in multiple stanzas. This poem uses imagery, personification, and repetition. These three examples of figurative language are used constantly throughout the poem.
Unlike a lot of other poems by Langston Hughes, this poem is not about the Harlem community, the American Dream, racial discrimination, or jazz and blues. Honestly, to me, this piece is one of Hughes's more calming pieces and sends a more peaceful message to the reader. In this poem, the rain offers a sense of comfort and security.
Repetition: In Stanzas 1-3 the author repeats the words "let the rain" at the beginning of each stanza. In Stanzas 4 and 5 the author uses the words "the rain makes" and repeats the words "the rain" in Stanza 6.
Imagery: When talking about the rain making "still pools on the sidewalk" and "playing a little sleep song on our roof at night", you have to use your senses to be able to know what the author is talking about.
Personification: "Let the rain kiss you" is a good example of personification. The rain cannot kiss, but humans can, therefore the author is giving the rain humanlike qualities because rain cannot kiss.
Identifying and Explaining the Figurative Language of this Poem
Without figurative language, this piece would be rather bland. I say it would be bland because with the figurative language I was able to relate to the poem because of the beautiful examples of imagery, repetition, and personification. I was able to really appreciate how calming the attitude towards rain was applied in certain stanzas. Using figurative language in a piece really makes a difference as opposed to just another boring poem about rain.