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Born February 1, 1901 Died May 22, 1967
He was a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance
He wrote novels, short stories, essays, and plays
He moved to New York as a young man
He began his studies at Colombia University in New York but dropped out
Graduated from Lincoln University
Was written in November 1926
At the beginning he can't wait till springtime comes so he can see all the flowers
He doesn't want to die in the winter because the snow will bury him and he would be forgotten he would rather die in the spring
Hughes calls spring sweet. The imagery created by that simple line is powerful. Now one gets to picture a grave covered with snow and the another grave covered with flowers.
Everyone can agree that the springtime grave is a better option.
ABABCB
"Red Roses"
I'm waitin' for de springtime (A)
When de tulips grow— (B)
Sweet, sweet springtime (A)
When de tulips grow; (B)
Cause if I'd die in de winter (C)
They'd bury me under snow. (B)
Un'neath de snow, Lawd, (D)
Oh, what would I do? (E)
Un'neath de snow, (B)
I say what would I do? (E)
It's bad enough to die but (F)
I don't want freezin' too. (E)
I'm waitin' for de springtime (A)
An' de roses red, (G)
Waitin' for de springtime (A)
When de roses red (G)
'Ll make a nice coverin' (H)
Fer a gal that's dead (G)
This poem has 3 stanzas
He uses alliteration and repetition in this poem
Alliteration in lines 3 and 14
Sweet, sweet springtime (3)
An' de roses red (14)
Repetition in all three stanzas
I'm waitin' for de springtime (1st and 3rd stanza)
Un'neath de snow (2nd stanza)