My soul has grown deep like the rivers - Langston Hughes

<p>“I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans, and I’ve seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset.”</p> <p>The Negro Speaks of Rivers by Langston Hughes was first published n the June 1921 issue of <a href='https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Crisis-American-magazine'>The Crisis</a>, the magazine of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The poem is found in The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes, published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Copyright © 1994 the Estate of Langston Hughes. </p> <p>Poem: The Negro Speaks of Rivers </p> <p>I’ve known rivers:</p> <p> I’ve known rivers ancient </p> <p>as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.</p> <p>My soul has grown deep like the rivers.</p> <p>I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.</p> <p>I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.</p> <p>I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.</p> <p>I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans, and I’ve seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset.</p> <p>I’ve known rivers:</p> <p>Ancient, dusky rivers.</p> <p>My soul has grown deep like the rivers.</p> <p>About The Artist Spotlight Series </p> <p>The<a href='https://www.empathymedialab.com/artistspotlight'> Artist Spotlight Series</a> explores art, artists, and the ideas behind the art illuminating and shaping our world.</p> <p>The Artist Spotlight Series is an EMLab brand produced by<a href='https://twitter.com/EvanMatthewPapp'> Evan Matthew Papp</a> and we are a proud member of the<a href='https://www.laborradionetwork.org/'> Labor Radio Podcast Network</a>. Support media, authors, artists, historians, and journalists, who are fighting to improve the prosperity of the working class.</p> <p>Follow our work at <a href='https://www.empathymedialab.com/artistspotlight'>https://www.empathymedialab.com/artistspotlight</a>. </p> <p>#ArtistSpotlight</p>