> Which American poet wrote, "Hold fast to dreams, For if dreams die, Life is abroken-winged bird, That cannot fly." And the answer: Langston Hughes. Photo courtesy: Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.Born in 1902 in theAmerican city of Joplin, Missouri, Hughes became known as a leader of the HarlemRenaissance in the 1920s. His poem "Dreams" is just eight lines long: Hold fast to dreamsFor if dreams dieLife is a broken-winged birdThat cannot fly. Hold fast to dreamsFor when dreams goLife is a barren fieldFrozen with snow.Poet, novelist and playwright, Langston Hughes was a leading voice of the HarlemRenaissance. As one of the most visible members of the younger generation ofBlack poets, Hughes covered new topics and practiced new poetic forms to engagea wider audience. After graduating high school, Hughes published his first and most popular poem:"The Negro Speaks of Rivers." This poem was one of the first in the Americancannon to celebrate and dignify the image of Africa. As it was published in awidely-read Black journal, young Hughes was launched into the spotlight nearlyimmediately. Hughes' poetry and prose spoke to an everyday Black experience inAmerica, and the young poet found great success in the accessibility of hisworks. While studying at Columbia University in New York City, Hughes discovered theHarlem arts scene. Fascinated by jazz and blues, he spent hours at music venuesand clubs, eventually coming to weave the rhythmic influences into his writing.The energy and vitality of such music was incredibly important to the style ofhis work, eventually going on to collaborate with some of the most prominentjazz artists of the time period such as the legendary Duke Ellington. Throughout his life, Hughes supported himself and his community though hisprolific body of works and passion to create. His influence, ambition, successand accessibility deserve recognition as one of the great American literaryvoices of the 20th century. Read more about Hughes' life and legacy here[https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/langston-hughes].