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An analysis of Langston Hughes’ poem starts with the title "Children's Rhymes." The title both prepares and misleads the reader about the poem’s subject matter. Typically, the rhymes of children are playful. In an earlier version of “Children’s Rhymes,” Hughes juxtaposes the rhymes about race with lighthearted children’s rhymes. In the version referenced here—the more common version—the rhymes are only about race. Thus, the title is ironic and somewhat unexpected. The rhymes of the child involve a serious subject. Using the playful form of children’s rhymes, the speaker confronts a complex and horrifying reality. Approaching this poem without knowledge of Langston Hughes or his work, the reader might expect a fun or flippant poem. The extreme seriousness of the children’s rhymes produces irony and deliberate deception.
At the same time, the title accurately reflects the poem in that the poem rhymes and maintains a jumpy rhythm. The poem relies on repetition and rhyme to keep its bouncy flow. Even when some of the words don’t rhyme exactly, they sound similar, like “kids” (Line 2) and “President” (Line 5). More so, the recurring appearance of certain words—sends/sent in Stanza 1, bug/bugs in Stanza 2, and ain’t in all three stanzas—reinforces the poem’s propulsive beat.
By Langston Hughes
Cora Unashamed
Cora Unashamed
Langston Hughes
Dreams
Dreams
Langston Hughes
Harlem
Harlem
Langston Hughes
I look at the world
I look at the world
Langston Hughes
I, Too
I, Too
Langston Hughes
Let America Be America Again
Let America Be America Again
Langston Hughes
Me and the Mule
Me and the Mule
Langston Hughes
Mother to Son
Mother to Son
Langston Hughes
Mulatto
Mulatto
Langston Hughes
Mule Bone: A Comedy of Negro Life
Mule Bone: A Comedy of Negro Life
Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston
Not Without Laughter
Not Without Laughter
Langston Hughes
Slave on the Block
Slave on the Block
Langston Hughes
Thank You, M'am
Thank You, M'am
Langston Hughes
The Big Sea
The Big Sea
Langston Hughes
Theme for English B
Theme for English B
Langston Hughes
The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain
The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain
Langston Hughes
The Negro Speaks of Rivers
The Negro Speaks of Rivers
Langston Hughes
The Ways of White Folks
The Ways of White Folks
Langston Hughes
The Weary Blues
The Weary Blues
Langston Hughes
Tired
Tired
Langston Hughes