Blog Assignment #5- Symbolism in Poetry

           There is great use of symbolism in the poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" by Langston Hughes.  In this poem, Hughes explains how he's known the rivers since the beginning of history.  He uses different time periods to symbolize this wisdom of the rivers he claims to have.  But is he actually talking about himself? It is obviously impossible that Hughes lived through more then a thousand years of history, so I think that when he says "I",  he actually means his people (African-Americans) as a whole.  Hughes is basically honoring black heritage and history through this poem.  Langston Hughes is really trying to emphasize his peoples widom when he says "I've known rivers anceint as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins." (Hughes 1).  This clear exaggeration means that before humans even exsisted, the black man had knowledge of the rivers.  This line is one example that is used to symbolize blacks wisdom of the rivers.  A second example, would be when he says "I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it. (Hughes 1).  The pyramids were built around 5,000 years ago a little more recent, but still going pretty far back in time which again helps get his point across.  Another line to symbolize African-American wisdom is when he says "I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans." (Hughes 1). Lincoln's time period was the 1800's.  And again, Langston uses another verse to honor the legacy of his wise people.  The poem is like a timeline, with each line, we are a little closer to present day.  Time may not stay constant in the poem, but the point sure does! http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15722