dream deferred

dream deferred
langston hughs

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore--
And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

*deferred means put off

that was the poem we discussed in literature class today. i though it was pretty good. we have been learning not to just read something, but to read it and dig deep into it to find a hidden meaning to the words. the part i really liked in the poem was how the author sort of described the different things that could happen to a dream that has been delayed or put off. i liked at the end where he says "or does it explode?" to me, that's like if you delay a dream, while you're waiting for the opportunity to carry out the dream, determination and excitement to carry out the dream to your fullest ability grows inside of you. i just thought it was a pretty cool poem!