Brian Johnson (host of the "Heroic +1" series) introduces and briefly contextualizes Langston Hughes, reads two couplets from Hughes's poem "Dreams" ("Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die..." and "Hold fast to dreams, for when dreams go..."), and links the poem's message to a passage from James Allen's essay "As a Man Thinketh." The video ends with a call to cherish and act on one's dreams.
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Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another heroic one. After creating that one on Rudyard Kipling's poem, if I did a little Google search to find some other inspiring poems that may be worthy of a one, I found some good ones and today we're going to chat about Langston Hughes's dreams. First quick biographical sketch Context According to the Academy of American Poets, Langston Hughes was a poet, novelist, fiction writer and playwright who was known for his insightful, colorful portrayals of black life in America from the 20s through the 60s and was important in shaping the artistic contributions of the Harlem Renaissance. Learn more about Hughes and his life and work on Wikipedia. Linked in the one. Now for the poem Hughes tells us hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams, for when dreams go, life is a barren field frozen with snow. How good is that? That reminds me of James Allen and a beautiful passage from his great little essay. As a man thinketh, James Allen tells us, and I quote him, cherish your visions, cherish your ideals, cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts. For out of them will grow all delightful conditions, all heavenly environment. Of these, if you but remain true to them, your world will at last be built. And that's today's plus one. What are your dreams? Hold fast to those dreams. Cherish those ideals, then whoop them. Get clear on the price you will need to pay, and go pay it today.
