To fling my arms wide
In some place of the sun,
To whirl and to dance
Till the white day is done.
Then rest at cool evening
Beneath a tall tree
While night comes on gently,
Dark like me—
That is my dream!
To fling my arms wide
In the face of the sun,
Dance! Whirl! Whirl!
Till the quick day is done.
Rest at pale evening . . .
A tall, slim tree . . .
Night coming tenderly
Black like me.
Image above (and on front-page mastheads): Photograph “137lp” by Paul Wainwright.
More images from the “Pendulum Gallery” can be found here.
Read how these images were made here.
Words above: “Dream Variations” by Langston Hughes.
From The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes, published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
Copyright © 1994 the Estate of Langston Hughes.