The Dream Keeper and Other Poems by Langston Hughes. Knopf, 1932, 1994.

Reminiscent of Hailstones and Halibut Bones with the imagery and simplicity. All the poems employ specific and unique language, and often surprise with contrasting images like the sea being like a desert of waves or new leaves singing in the rain.

Incredible rhythm in the blues set. “And the beauty of Susanna Jones in red/Burns in my heart a love-fire sharp like pain./Sweet silver trumpets,/Jesus!” Amen to that!

Interesting, too, how varied the poems are. Universal, global, modern somehow, despite being three quarters of a century old.