I have known rivers,ancient ,dusky rivers
I’ve known rivers:
I’ve known rivers ancient as the world
and older than the
flow of human blood in human veins.
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.
I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.
I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.
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.
I’ve known rivers:
Ancient, dusky rivers.
My soul has grown deep like the rivers. By Langston Hughes
Interesting thoughts :
I have known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of blood in human veins
Rivers like the Ganges which had existed much before the humans came on the scene.More interesting is the juxtaposition of the impermanence of the flow of blood in human veins with the timelessness of the ancient rivers . I have known rivers ancient ,dusky rivers
Rivers which had originated much before the humans came on the scene.More interesting is the “dusky” rivers much like the ancient Negro ancestors whose blood is flowing in the veins of the American blacks.