Dreams: A Soft Ray of Hope Through Darkness

Paris Through the Window,

Marc Chagall

Dreams, by Langston Hughes

Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird 

That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams

For when dreams go

Life is a barren field

Frozen with snow. 

This poem by Langston Hughes, talks mainly about dreams. But inside, there is a hidden theme: ceasing to dream is like losing hope. Langston Hughes, an African-American poet, wrote this poem when racism was raging in America. Prejudice against the African-Americans was outrageous. Slavery, segregation, violence, and giving shame. Back then, it seemed as if this cruelty would never end for the African-Americans. In this poem, Langston Hughes is encouraging his people to not give up, to dream about the possible future. He suggests that if one dreams, life would be worth living, but if one stops dreaming, life would become empty and miserable like 'a barren field frozen with snow'. (Hughes, lines 7, 8) But to dream, there must be hope. Hope that one day there will be freedom. And this dream came true. In 1865, after the Civil War, African-Americans slowly gained their rights in the country. This would not have happened if the African-Americans gave up hope and their dreams to live a free life. And this idea of hoping and dreaming transcends time, as it is still important to this day. Nationality, looks, age all doesn't matter. Having hopes and dreams is essential if one wants to achieve what he or she wants. It will give strength to continue on the long, sometimes agonizing journey that seems to never end. But it will eventually end, and it will end faster if you maintain hope. Keep dreaming, as dreams will give a soft ray of hope through the pitch black darkness and lead you out.