Another One by Langston

Young Sailor

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 the green sea
For strength,
And the brown land
For laughter.

And nothing hereafter.

- - - - - - - - - -

I love this poem. The image of the sailor is youth itself, as it often is: sure of itself, defying conventions, full of energy and life, a little self-centered. My favorite part, though, are the last three verses.

"And the brown land for laughter, and nothing hereafter."

Sublime.