Night Funeral in Harlem – by Langston Hughes | Loss, Poverty, and Communal Resilience

Langston Hughes’ poem Night Funeral in Harlem is a poignant exploration of loss, poverty, and communal resilience. Written in a simple yet powerful narrative style, the poem describes the funeral of a young Black man in Harlem. Hughes captures the economic struggles of the community while also showcasing the deep love and respect the mourners have for the deceased. Through repetition, imagery, and symbolism, the poem highlights themes of racial and economic hardship, as well as the strength of communal bonds in times of grief.

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Night Funeral in Harlem Poem Lyrics

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Line-by-Line Analysis of Night Funeral in Harlem

1. “Night funeral / In Harlem:”
   • The poem opens with a direct statement, setting the time and place of the funeral. The nighttime setting adds to the solemn and reflective mood.
2. “Where did they get / Them two fine cars?”
   • The speaker wonders how the mourners could afford luxury funeral cars, hinting at financial struggles.
3. “Insurance man, he did not pay— / His insurance lapsed the other day—”
   • The deceased had life insurance, but it recently expired, meaning there was no payout to help with funeral expenses.
4. “Yet they got a satin box / for his head to lay.”
   • Despite financial hardship, they still managed to provide a satin-lined coffin, showing their love and respect.
5. “Night funeral / In Harlem:”
   • The refrain emphasizes the setting and maintains the rhythm, much like a funeral march.
6. “Who was it sent / That wreath of flowers?”
   • The speaker questions who provided flowers for the funeral.
7. “Them flowers came / from that poor boy’s friends—”
   • The flowers were not from wealthy donors but from his friends, who gave what little they could.
8. “They’ll want flowers, too, / When they meet their ends.”
   • A somber reflection on the cycle of poverty and death within the community.
9. “Night funeral / in Harlem:”
   • The repetition reinforces the weight of the moment.
10. “Who preached that / Black boy to his grave?”
    • The speaker asks who gave the eulogy for the deceased.
11. “Old preacher man / Preached that boy away—”
    • A preacher conducted the funeral service, delivering the final words over the deceased.
12. “Charged Five Dollars / His girl friend had to pay.”
    • The preacher charged a fee for the service, which the grieving girlfriend had to cover, emphasizing the community’s financial struggles.
13. “Night funeral / In Harlem:”
    • The refrain reappears, reinforcing the poem’s rhythmic structure.
14. “When it was all over / And the lid shut on his head”
    • The funeral concludes as the coffin is closed.
15. “And the organ had done played / and the last prayers been said”
    • The funeral rituals are completed, including music and prayers.
16. “And six pallbearers / Carried him out for dead”
    • Six men carry the coffin out of the service.
17. “And off down Lenox Avenue / That long black hearse done sped,”
    • The hearse takes the body down Lenox Avenue, a significant street in Harlem, symbolizing both movement and finality.
18. “The street light / At his corner / Shined just like a tear—”
    • The streetlight at his neighborhood corner appears like a tear, symbolizing the community’s grief.
19. “That boy that they was mournin’ / Was so dear, so dear”
    • The deceased was loved by those around him.
20. “To them folks that brought the flowers, / To that girl who paid the preacher man—”
    • Despite economic struggles, his community came together to honor him.
21. “It was all their tears that made / That poor boy’s / Funeral grand.”
    • The funeral may not have been extravagant, but the love and grief of the mourners made it meaningful.
22. “Night funeral / In Harlem.”
    • The poem ends with the same refrain, bringing a sense of closure and finality.

Explore: Poets and Poetry Page | Langston Hughes Biography | Poems by Langston Hughes

Themes in Night Funeral in Harlem Poem

1. Death and Mourning
   • The poem revolves around the funeral of a young Black man, depicting the rituals and emotional weight of loss.
2. Poverty and Economic Struggles
   • The inability to afford insurance, the cost of flowers, and the preacher’s fee highlight financial hardships in the community.
3. Community and Solidarity
   • Despite economic struggles, the community comes together to honor the deceased, showing deep love and respect.
4. Race and Social Inequality
   • The poem indirectly comments on the systemic issues that leave Black communities in cycles of poverty and hardship.
5. Symbolism of Light and Tears
   • The streetlight shining like a tear symbolizes both grief and the lingering presence of the deceased in the community’s memory.

Explore: Poets and Poetry Page | Langston Hughes Biography | Poems by Langston Hughes

Summary of Night Funeral in Harlem

Night Funeral in Harlem captures the funeral of a young Black man in Harlem, focusing on the economic struggles of his community and their collective grief. Despite financial hardships, his friends manage to provide flowers, and his girlfriend pays for the preacher’s service. The hearse carries the body down Lenox Avenue, and the streetlight at his corner glows like a tear, symbolizing the deep sorrow of those who loved him. Hughes highlights the resilience, love, and solidarity of the community, showing how their grief, more than material wealth, made the funeral significant.

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