Aunt Sue's Stories
Aunt Sue has a head full of stories.
Aunt Sue has a whole heart full of stories.
Summer nights on the front porch
Aunt Sue cuddles a brown-faced child to her bosom
And tells him stories.
Black slaves
Working in the hot sun,
And black slaves
Walking in the dewy night,
And black slaves
Singing sorrow songs on the banks of a mighty river
Mingle themselves softly
In the flow of old Aunt Sue's voice,
Mingle themselves softly
In the dark shadows that cross and recross
Aunt Sue's stories.
And the dark-faced child, listening,
Knows that Aunt Sue's stories are real stories.
He knows that Aunt Sue never got her stories
Out of any book at all,
But that they came
Right out of her own life.
The dark-faced child is quiet
Of a summer night
Listening to Aunt Sue's stories.
Aunt Sue has a whole heart full of stories.
Summer nights on the front porch
Aunt Sue cuddles a brown-faced child to her bosom
And tells him stories.
Black slaves
Working in the hot sun,
And black slaves
Walking in the dewy night,
And black slaves
Singing sorrow songs on the banks of a mighty river
Mingle themselves softly
In the flow of old Aunt Sue's voice,
Mingle themselves softly
In the dark shadows that cross and recross
Aunt Sue's stories.
And the dark-faced child, listening,
Knows that Aunt Sue's stories are real stories.
He knows that Aunt Sue never got her stories
Out of any book at all,
But that they came
Right out of her own life.
The dark-faced child is quiet
Of a summer night
Listening to Aunt Sue's stories.
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Langston Hughes' poem "Aunt
Langston Hughes' poem "Aunt Sue's Stories" is a touching exploration of the importance of storytelling in preserving cultural heritage. With vivid imagery and heartfelt language, Hughes pays homage to the tradition of oral storytelling and its profound impact on the listener.
The poem begins by painting a vivid picture of Aunt Sue, a storyteller who holds a wealth of stories passed down through generations. Hughes emphasizes Aunt Sue's deep connection to her stories, describing her as someone who has "a head full of stories" and "a whole heart full of stories." This imagery conveys the extent of Aunt Sue's knowledge and the passion with which she shares her tales.
As Aunt Sue sits on the front porch on summer nights, she envelops a young listener, described as a "brown-faced child," in the warmth of her storytelling. Through Aunt Sue's words, the child is transported to a world of black slaves toiling in the hot sun, walking in the dewy night, and singing sorrowful songs on the banks of a mighty river. These stories are not mere fantasies or fables; they are deeply rooted in Aunt Sue's own life experiences and the collective memory of her community.
Hughes captures the immersive nature of Aunt Sue's storytelling, describing how the stories "mingle themselves softly" in the flow of her voice and the dark shadows that surround them. This imagery suggests that Aunt Sue's stories are not just heard but felt, as they evoke a sense of connection to the past and a shared cultural identity.
The poem emphasizes the authenticity and significance of Aunt Sue's stories, contrasting them with tales found in books. The "dark-faced child" listening to Aunt Sue knows that her stories are real, drawn from her own lived experiences rather than from any written source. This distinction underscores the importance of oral tradition in preserving cultural heritage and transmitting ancestral knowledge from one generation to the next.
In conclusion, "Aunt Sue's Stories" by Langston Hughes is a heartfelt tribute to the power of storytelling and its role in preserving cultural heritage. Through vivid imagery and poignant language, Hughes celebrates the oral tradition passed down by figures like Aunt Sue, whose stories serve as a bridge between past and present, connecting listeners to their roots and fostering a sense of belonging. This touching poem reminds us of the enduring value of storytelling in shaping identity and fostering community.
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