Dream Deferred

After my oldest boy turned 11, I would make him memorize poems (he loved me for it – what boy doesn’t want to memorize poems?).

One poem is a small one by Langston Hughes called “Harlem [2]”. The poem starts by asking the question “What happens to a dream deferred?” The poem is really about racial inequality in post World War II America. But, Aidan read it literally and applied it to me – what would have happened to me if I didn’t follow my dreams of starting a winery. It’s now become my favorite way of interpreting this poem.

Harlem [2]

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up

like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore—

And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over—

like a syrupy sweet?



Maybe it just sags

like a heavy load.



Or does it explode?