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Langston Hughes, "When Sue Wears Red" (1920/1923)

213
When Susanna Jones wears red
Her face is like an ancient cameo
Turned brown by the ages.

Come with a blast of trumpets,
   Jesus!

When Susanna Jones wears red
A queen from some time-dead Egyptian night
Walks once again.

Blow trumpets, Jesus!

And the beauty of Susanna Jones in red
Burns in in my heart a love-fire sharp like pain.

Sweet silver trumpets,
   Jesus!


(Editor's Note: Arnold Rampersad describes this poem as having been written in 1920, when Hughes was a senior in high school)
Published in The Crisis, February 1923
Also published in The Weary Blues, 1926

This page has paths:

  1. Langston Hughes: Poems, Biography, and Timeline of his early career Amardeep Singh
  2. Langston Hughes, Poems Published in "The Crisis" 1921-1926 Amardeep Singh
  3. Langston Hughes, "The Weary Blues" (full text) (1926) Amardeep Singh

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  1. Black Beauty: "Brown Skin" Aesthetics" Amardeep Singh