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?
Maybe it just sags like a heavy load
★
What do the similes in the previous stanza get you to think, feel, or consider?
The similes in the previous stanza evoke various emotions and thoughts about the fate of a deferred dream. The comparison of a deferred dream drying up like a raisin in the sun suggests a sense of withering and loss. It conveys the idea that the dream might lose its vitality and become insignificant, much like a shriveled raisin.
The simile of a festering sore that eventually runs implies a sense of anger, frustration, and potential negative consequences. It suggests that a deferred dream can lead to internal turmoil or external conflicts.
The comparison of a deferred dream stinking like rotten meat portrays a sense of decay and foulness. It implies that an unfulfilled dream can turn into something unpleasant or repulsive.
On the other hand, the simile of a deferred dream crust and sugaring over like a syrupy sweet offers a contrasting image. It conveys the idea that a dream might appear superficially intact or even pleasing, but underneath the surface, it remains unfulfilled and unresolved.
Ultimately, the various similes in this stanza make the reader consider the potential outcomes of a deferred dream, ranging from loss and decay to hidden dissatisfaction.