The American Dream has been a central theme in American literature, representing ideals of freedom, prosperity, and opportunity. These ten poems delve into various interpretations of the American Dream, from its promises and aspirations to its challenges and disillusionments.
1. "Let America Be America Again" by Langston Hughes
Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.
Let it be the pioneer on the plain
Seeking a home where he himself is free.
Hughes’ poem reflects on the disparity between the ideal of the American Dream and the reality experienced by marginalized groups. It calls for a return to the original promise of freedom and equality for all.
2. "I Hear America Singing" by Walt Whitman
I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,
Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be
blithe and strong,
The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,
Whitman’s poem celebrates the diversity and industrious spirit of the American people, each contributing their unique voice to the collective song of the nation.
3. "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus
Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Lazarus’ sonnet, inscribed on the Statue of Liberty, epitomizes the American Dream’s promise as a beacon of hope and opportunity for immigrants seeking a better life.
4. "The Tropics in New York" by Claude McKay
Bananas ripe and green, and ginger-root,
Cocoa in pods and alligator pears,
And tangerines and mangoes and grape-fruit,
Fit for the highest prize at parish fairs,
McKay’s poem captures the longing for home and the bittersweet experience of immigrants who, while pursuing the American Dream, feel a deep connection to their homeland.
5. "America" by Allen Ginsberg
America I've given you all and now I'm nothing.
America two dollars and twenty-seven cents January 17, 1956.
I can't stand my own mind.
Ginsberg’s poem is a candid critique of America’s political and social landscape, questioning whether the American Dream is attainable for all or merely a facade.
6. "Harlem" by Langston Hughes
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—
In "Harlem," Hughes poignantly addresses the frustrations and consequences of unfulfilled dreams, particularly those of African Americans who have been denied their share of the American Dream.
7. "Chicago" by Carl Sandburg
Hog Butcher for the World,
Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat,
Player with Railroads and the Nation's Freight Handler;
Stormy, husky, brawling,
Sandburg’s poem offers a gritty yet proud portrayal of the working-class spirit that drives the American Dream in the bustling city of Chicago.
8. "Of History and Hope" by Miller Williams
We have memorized America,
how it was born and who we have been and where.
In ceremonies and silence we say the words,
telling the stories, singing the old songs.
This poem reflects on the American Dream as a collective memory and aspiration, urging us to remember the past while continuing to strive for a better future.
9. "America" by Claude McKay
Although she feeds me bread of bitterness,
And sinks into my throat her tiger's tooth,
Stealing my breath of life, I will confess
I love this cultured hell that tests my youth.
McKay’s poem presents a complex relationship with America, acknowledging its hardships while also expressing a deep, conflicted love for the country and its ideals.
10. "Freedom’s Plow" by Langston Hughes
America is a dream.
The word “Democracy” was a dream.
The land, it was a dream.
The people, there’s no such people.
Hughes’ poem speaks to the collective effort required to achieve the American Dream, framing it as a shared responsibility to build a just and equitable society.
These poems provide a nuanced exploration of the American Dream, capturing both its promise and its challenges. Through the voices of diverse poets, we gain insight into how the dream has been both a source of inspiration and a point of contention throughout American history.
