Harlem
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?
The tone of this poem is contemplative and reflective. The speaker is questioning and exploring the consequences of unfulfilled dreams, considering the possible outcomes with a sense of curiosity and introspection. There is a sense of melancholy and urgency in the imagery used to convey the potential impact of a deferred dream.
