Young Sailor
by Langston Hughes
He carries
His own strength
And his own laughter,
His own today
And his own hereafter,—
This strong young sailor
Of the wide seas.
What is money for?
To spend, he says.
And wine?
To drink.
And women?
To love.
And today?
For joy.
And tomorrow?
For joy.
And the green sea
For strength,
And the brown land
For laughter.
And nothing hereafter.
Vocabulary List
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Strength
The quality or state of being physically strong or powerful."He lifted the heavy box with great strength."
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Laughter
The sound or act of laughing; showing amusement or joy."The child's laughter filled the room."
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Hereafter
The time after this life; the future, or what comes next."He did not worry about the hereafter, only about today."
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Sailor
A person whose job is to work on a ship at sea."The sailor traveled to many different countries by ship."
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Wide seas
The vast, open ocean; a large area of the sea."He dreamed of adventure on the wide seas."
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For joy
To enjoy something or to be happy; for the purpose of happiness."She dances for joy when she hears good news."
Comprehension Questions
- What are some things the young sailor "carries" with him?
- What is the young sailor’s attitude toward money, wine, and women?
- How does the sailor feel about "today" and "tomorrow"?
- What do the "green sea" and "brown land" represent for the sailor?
- What does "nothing hereafter" suggest about the sailor’s view of the future?
- How would you describe the personality of the young sailor?
- What is the main message of the poem?