Quiet Girl [Ardella] -- Langston Hughes

[1902–1967, American]

I would liken you
To a night without stars
Were it not for your eyes.
I would liken you
To a sleep without dreams
Were it not for your songs.

Source: Hughes, L, 1995, The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes, Vintage.
Originally published as ‘Ardella’ in the book above. Later published as ‘Quiet Girl’.

Dreams -- Langston Hughes

[1902–1967, American]

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.

Source: Hughes, L 1994, The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes, Alfred A Knopf/Vintage.