Langston Hughes: The Poetry of Jazz

The influence of jazz (the music, the people, the settings) is a major factor in the work of Harlem Renaissance writer Langston Hughes. Here are two poems in which that influence is more easily apparent. The Weary Blues is also accompanied with a video recitation of the poem accompanied by images and a soundtrack of the jazz age. This post has a considerable amount of information and I expect a considerable amount of thoughtful reflection and response. I will be counting your responses as a quiz grade, so substantive responses will earn you higher marks. Your responses should reflect your assimilation of material from all aspects of the course to this point. References to other artists and examples from other readings or recordings will be highly considered.

The Trumpet Player

The Negro

With the trumpet at his lips

Has dark moons of weariness

Beneath his eyes

Where the smoldering memory

Of slave ships

Blazed to the crack of whips

About his thighs.

The Negro

With the trumpet at his lips

Has a head of vibrant hair

Tamed down,

Patent-leathered now

Until it gleams

Like jetWere jet a crown.

The music

From the trumpet at his lips

Is honey

Mixed with liquid fire.

The rhythm

From the trumpet at his lips

Is ecstasy

Distilled from old desire...

But softly

As the tune comes from his throat

Trouble

Mellows to a golden note.

The Weary Blues 

Droning a drowsy syncopated tune,

Rocking back and forth to a mellow croon,

 I heard a Negro play.

Down on Lenox Avenue the other night

By the pale dull pallor of an old gas light

 He did a lazy sway . . .

 He did a lazy sway . . .

To the tune o' those Weary Blues.

With his ebony hands on each ivory key

He made that poor piano moan with melody.

 O Blues!

Swaying to and fro on his rickety stool

He played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool.

 Sweet Blues!

Coming from a black man's soul.

 O Blues!

In a deep song voice with a melancholy tone

I heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan--

 "Ain't got nobody in all this world,

 Ain't got nobody but ma self.

 I's gwine to quit ma frownin'

 And put ma troubles on the shelf."

Thump, thump, thump, went his foot on the floor.

He played a few chords then he sang some more--

 "I got the Weary Blues

 And I can't be satisfied.

 Got the Weary Blues

 And can't be satisfied--

 I ain't happy no mo'

 And I wish that I had died."

And far into the night he crooned that tune.

The stars went out and so did the moon.

The singer stopped playing and went to bed

While the Weary Blues echoed through his head.

He slept like a rock or a man that's dead.

VIDEO OF WEARY BLUES

After reading and listening to the poetry of Langston Hughes, describe how the writer uses the elements of jazz music to influence his writing. Does there seem to be a natural connection between the written word of Langston Hughes and the sounds and style of Jazz? Describe that connection. 

How does the language and imagery Langston Hughes use in his poem match the images and sounds you see and hear in the video?

We have been making the case for language and writing being interlaced with music. What other aspects of our culture get connected with music?