Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, RAILROAD AVENUE, by JAMES LANGSTON HUGHES


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

RAILROAD AVENUE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Dusk dark / on railroad avenue
Alternate Author Name(s): Hughes, Langston
Subject(s): African Americans; Negroes; American Blacks


Dusk dark
Dusk dark
On Railroad Avenue.
On Railroad Avenue.
Lights in the fish joints,
Lights in the fish joints,
Lights in the pool rooms.
Lights in the pool rooms.
A box car some train
A box-car some train
Has forgotten
Has forgotten
In the middle of the block.
In the middle of the
A player piano,
Block.
A victrola.
A player piano,
Was the number.
A victrola.
A boy
Was the number.
Lounging on the corner.
A boy
A passing girl
Lounging on a corner.
With purple powdered skin.
A passing girl
Laughter
With purple powdered skin.
Suddenly
Laughter
Like a taut drum.
Suddenly
Laughter
Like a taut drum.
Suddenly
Laughter
Neither truth nor lie.
Suddenly
Laughter
Neither truth nor lie.
Hardening the dusk dark evening.
Laughter
Laughter
Hardening the dusk dark evening.
Shaking the lights in the fish joints,
Laughter
Rolling white balls in the pool rooms,
Shaking the lights in the fish joints,
And leaving untouched the box car
Rolling white balls in the pool rooms,
Some train has forgotten.
And leaving untouched the box-car

Some train has forgotten.





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