Harlem (Dream Deferred) Quotes
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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?
Context
What does happen to a dream deferred?
If we were to answer this question right away, we'd probably say, "Nothing much, Mr. Speaker, it will probably just fade away." But there's something about the way our speaker says "dream deferred" instead of "deferred dream" that makes us realize that we are not in the world of logical rationale, but rather the far cooler world of poetry, truth telling, and soul-searching.
By beginning this poem with a question, we readers are put on the spot.
Where you've heard it
People around the globe have taken up this phrase—"dream deferred"—for various purposes:
- It's the name of a Law & Order: SVU episode.
- It was featured in a Nike ad.
- Journalists use it for effect.
- It's the name of the conference for The Future of African American Education.
Pretentious Factor
If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.
Asking too many rhetorical questions can get you pretentious points, but we happen to like this one.